The Challenge  

   

Instructions for Application    

Thank you for being a part of the REALTOR® 2014 Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper (LQC). LQC is a low-cost high impact incremental framework for improving your community in short order. As a strategy, it has produced some of the world's most successful public spaces, capitalizing on the create energy of the community. As you prepare this application, you'll find great examples and additional information online.

 Application Information

 Our Lighter Quicker Cheaper (LQC) Initiative Description: In 200 words or less, describe how your project or activity turns an underutilized common space into a vibrant, bustling, enjoyable space, quickly and creatively.

 Amount Requested: Enter the level of funding desired. Grants range from $100 to $1,000  

Start Date: Date of program start:  

End Date: Date of program completion:  

Name and Contact Information: Name, address, phone number and email address for the person most knowledgeable about the proposal. Provide an email address for the contact person where you want all correspondence to be sent. Also include a website address of the organization if applicable.

 LQC Initiative Information  

1. Explain how funds will be spent to meet Lighter, Quicker Cheaper goals. Using the attached matrix, tell us a little bit about how your unique LQC initiative will transform or enhance a space and spark social engagement, and perhaps even support other placemaking activities in your community.

 Program/Project Participants:

 Number of Individuals to Benefit: State the estimated number of people who will participate in and/or benefit from your event, activity or the neighborhood improvement project.  

2. Explain how your idea will contribute to the neighborhood or community. ? How might this lead to social connections? What demand do you see for this activity?

 3. What neighborhood/community activities supplement your LQC initiative? Complete and attach the

Power of 10 Assessment form.  

4. Have you secured permission from the appropriate organization(s) if your project involves public or private space?

 5. List the REALTOR® sponsor, company and email for the LQC initiative along with a short statement

from the sponsor affirming the project goals from his/her perspective.  

6. Seeing is believing; please email a photo of the project site to the program coordinator at your Local Association. This photo will provide visual support for the project as well as demonstrate an applicant's ability to comply with the project requirements.

 

       

Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper Community Revitalization Examples  

1. Bike lending station  

2. Community garden plot  

3. Portable marketplace kiosk to test new local products  

4. Community toolshed  

5. Paint It! Day  

6. Rain garden workshop and hands-on installation event  

7. Bike map (paths, racks, etc.)  

8. Walking tours highlighting cool neighborhoods, buildings, issues, with local experts  

9. Eat local week  

1 0. Local artists and authors event  

11. Sporting amenities - movable basketball hoop, volleyball net+ balls -at public centers like the library, for instant setup

12. Pedi cab service  

13. Asset mapping event: what's cool in our community and how could it contribute more to quality of life

14. Movable feast  

15. Imagine our future: world cafe gathering  

1 6. Butterfly garden I backyard habitat workshop  

1 7. Set up a "creative complex" of shipping containers big enough to make office/ studio spaces for a design team that can work with neighborhood groups on making their parts of town more beautiful, multi-purpose and people-friendly; include maker space and tool lending library and materials exchange

18. Local investment workshop with community activists and entrepreneurs, and bankers/ investors/ philanthropists

 19. Simple hospitality center with a no-fee ATM, healthy food vending machine, bike racks

and public seating near transit, sponsored by local banks

20. Parklet near a public area encouraging activity or socialize

The

 

       

2014 Application Form    

Our Lighter Quicker Cheaper (LQC) Initiative:              

Our LQC Initiative will increase opportunities for social engagement and activity in the neighborhood and change the way people think about or utilize our community.

Neighborhood/Location: _

Grant amount requested: (range $100 to $1 ,000)  

Start Date: End Date: _      

Name and Contact Information

Name of Applicant/Group

Contact Person

Address    

Daytime/Evening Telephone Number Email    

The following questions are designed to provide the Judging Panel information and details about your proposed project for the review process. Please refer to the Application Instructions for guidance.

 1. Tell us more specifically about how the funds be spent to meet one or both of the Lighter,

Quicker Cheaper goals?  

Transform space into desirable spot for people to gather, eat, play, enjoy, sit and perform or Enhance a space visually, providing a welcome environment for social interactions.

 

Estimated number of individuals to benefit: _  

2. Your idea will contribute to the quality of life in the neighborhood or make the community a better or a more interesting place to live because:

               

3. Placemaking research shows that it is not enough to have just one great place in a neighborhood- you need a number of them to create a truly lively community. Through the attached Power of 10 Exercise, tell us more about the other great things to do or reasons to be in your community.

 4. Y N I have secured permission as appropriate from any/all governing bodies, merchants,

affiliated groups for use of the public space as outlined in this grant.  

5. My REALTOR® sponsor for the project or event is:  

Name Company Email _  

 I enthusiastically sponsor this project, because I want the neighborhood to be: (insert REALTOR® supporting statement here)

                   

6. Please email a current PHOTO of your neighborhood/community LQC planned project area to your Local Association challenge grant coordinator. In addition, LQC Challenge winners are required to submit photos highlighting their project from start to finish. Photos do not need to be professional quality, rather show the "before" and "after" of the project, or during the scheduled activity. Additional information about submission of photos will be provided upon approval. Videos are also accepted.

     7.CERTIFICATION  I certify that the information contained in this application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

     

Signature of Contact Person Date

The

 

Judging Panel/Committee Assessment Matrix    

LQC Initiatives demonstrating some or all of these attributes are more likely to be successful. As you describe your initiative on the application, take some time to provide supporting statements for these qualifications as appropriate:  

• Is there substantial evidence of demand for the LQC initiative as submitted?  

• Will the LQC initiative address under-served needs in the community?  

• Does the location of the LQC initiative offer services and amenities to attract and sustain

social interaction?

• Will the LQC initiative generate a triple bottom line, i.e., positive cultural, economic,

and social impacts?

• Will the LQC initiative create a win-win-win scenario for REALTORs, partners, investors and

stakeholders?

• Will the LQC initiative highlight the ability for local citizens to impact a community in small

or large manner?

• Is the LQC initiative unique with respect to community transformation, prosperity, and

sustainability?

• Will the project contribute to new types of behavior in the community?  

• Will the LQC initiative change the way people think about or utilize the community or

space?

• Are sufficient resources available to support the planning and implementation work

required?

• How significant is the applicant's contribution of resources to the LQC initiative?  

• Is the budget proposed reasonable?  

• Is the project sustainable beyond the initial funding?  

• Does this project impact the community beyond the original implementation?  

• Would you spend time at the LQC initiative?  

• Is the area easy to get to?  

• Has the LQC initiative grown organically from the community? Will it build and leverage

assets and resources which will improve the community?

• Are there strong community leaders/champions of the LQC initiative and are they prepared

to raise money to advance and steward it over the long term?

 

The Lighter Quicker Cheaper Challenge  

Power of 10  

   What is the Power of 1 0?

 At the core of the Power of 10 is the idea that any great place needs to offer at least 10 things to do or 10 reasons to be

there. These could include a place to sit, playgrounds to enjoy, art to touch, music to hear, food to eat, history to

experience and people to meet. Ideally, some of these activities are unique to that particular spot and are interesting

enough to keep people coming back. The local folks who use the space most regularly are the best source of ideas of

what will work best. See more at http://www.pps.org/reference/the-power-of-1 0/    

PPS uses the Power of 10 to start off a Placemaking process. As you begin your project, instruct your team to think

about the special places in your neighborhood or community? How many quality places are located in your project

space? How connected are they? Are there places that should be more meaningful? Answering these questions and

completing the Power of 10 exercise will help you and our Judging Panel/Committee assess whether or not the LQC

project described in the application is part of a greater transformative process in your neighborhood or community.    

Finally, the Power of 10 is proven to motivate citizens and energize turnaround in a neighborhood or community. It

suggests that by starting efforts and the smallest scale, you can steadily accomplish big changes. It also gives people

something tangible to strive for and helps them visualize what it takes to make their community great.    

Examples of Power of 10  

See attached pages.      

10 Top Attractions in my Community*

T,e.ll us about the top 5-10 special places in the targeted project community/neighborhood.

 

2.

3.  

4. _  

5. _  6.

 

7.  

8.  9.

10. _

 

 

 

 

   What makes communities like Harbor Springs in Northern Michigan a great place? Easy. Because Harbor Springs is a great place and the downtown area is vibrant and filled with things to do. Here's what makes downtown Harbor Springs special:

   

*A charming, walkable downtown district where you can shop, dine, and explore.

 

*Two beaches within the city limits and just a few blocks from downtown.  

*A beautiful downtown waterfront complete with green space, picnic tables, and a dock to walk on.  

*A sailing school for children and adults on the waterfront.  

*A thriving art community with a variety of art galleries featuring artists-in-residence and a variety of art

mediums.

*A farmer's market two days a week during the growing season.  

*Celebrations in downtown Harbor Springs such as Street Musigue each Thursday evening in the

summer, July 4th activities including a parade, fireworks, and an art fair, Taste of Harbor Springs,

Waterfront Wine Festival, Sidewalk Sales and Celebration, and Holiday Open Houses and activities.

*Park benches throughout the downtown area in front of businesses and along the waterfront where

people can enjoy the atmosphere.

*A downtown library plus a book store.  

*The Harbor Springs History Museum and the Andrew J. Blackbird Museum.

 

   

                           

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