City of Rochester celebrates rapid growth of Neighbors In Action as Canandaigua National Bank joins as new funding partner

Rochester, New York – A community grant program designed to help Rochester residents turn neighborhood ideas into real projects is expanding, with Canandaigua National Bank joining as its newest funding partner.

The City of Rochester, ESL Federal Credit Union and the Rochester Area Community Foundation announced the partnership as Neighbors In Action continues to grow. The program provides financial support to residents and community organizations working on projects that bring people together and respond to needs in their neighborhoods.

The program was launched in September 2024 and offers grants of up to $10,000. Its first two years have shown a sharp increase in both interest and the number of projects receiving support.

Applications nearly doubled during the second year of the program. At the same time, the number of funded projects increased from 47 during the first year to 74 this year.

With financial support from Canandaigua National Bank, eight more projects will now receive funding. That brings the total number of projects supported during the current year to 82.

For city officials and the program’s partners, the growth is evidence that residents are interested in taking an active role in improving their own neighborhoods.

“Neighbors In Action is built on a simple but powerful idea: the people who live in our neighborhoods know what their neighborhoods need,” said Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans. “When we give residents the opportunity and resources to turn their ideas into action, incredible things happen. I’m proud to welcome Canandaigua National Bank as a new partner and am grateful to ESL Federal Credit Union and Rochester Area Community Foundation for their continued support. These partners share a deep commitment to Rochester and a willingness to think creatively about solving problems in our neighborhoods. I encourage other organizations to join us by investing in Neighbors In Action so we can support even more residents.”

The addition of Canandaigua National Bank gives the program another financial partner at a time when the number of applications and funded projects is increasing.

Ginny Ryan, Senior Vice-President & Director of Community Engagement and Communications at Canandaigua National Bank, said the bank sees neighborhoods as an important part of building stronger communities.

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“We strive to be a bank for the community, and believe neighborhoods are where communities begin,” shared Ginny Ryan, Senior Vice-President & Director, Community Engagement and Communications, Canandaigua National Bank. “Neighbors help them prosper. It is that kind of investment and commitment that we are not only proud to support but applaud both the neighbors willing to take action and the City of Rochester for its vision and leadership bringing this program to life. Our entire community is lifted up by people who are willing to step up.”

The program also gives community leaders a clearer picture of the issues residents are dealing with and the types of projects they want to pursue.

“NIA projects are a window into Rochester’s needs and aspirations and an introduction to more of the small organizations serving our neighborhoods,” says Simeon Banister, President & CEO of Rochester Area Community Foundation. “Two years in, this has become an invaluable dataset to help us make better decisions.”

ESL Federal Credit Union has been involved with Neighbors In Action as a funding partner and said the program’s focus on residents is an important part of its work in Rochester.

“At ESL, we believe that by investing in our neighborhoods, we can help create a lasting, meaningful impact on the City of Rochester,” said Eric Van Dusen, Manager, Community Impact, ESL Federal Credit Union. “We’re proud to support Neighbors In Action and its people-first approach, as it equips residents with the opportunities, tools, and support they need to create the changes they would like to see in their own communities. We’re pleased to continue partnering in this meaningful work, and we look forward to witnessing how residents’ ideas will continue to shape and strengthen our neighborhoods and help the City of Rochester thrive for years to come.”

Neighbors In Action is not Rochester’s first effort to provide residents with resources for neighborhood improvements. The current program builds on the city’s Neighbors Building Neighborhoods program, which began in 1996 under former Rochester Mayor William A. Johnson Jr.

Neighbors Building Neighborhoods eventually became a nationally recognized example of cooperation between government and community groups. Over the years, it supported hundreds of projects throughout Rochester.

Those projects covered a wide range of local activities, including neighborhood beautification, community events and public safety efforts. Neighbors In Action continues that general approach while providing residents and organizations with grants of up to $10,000.

The projects receiving support this year show how varied the needs and ideas are across Rochester’s neighborhoods.

Some projects focus on cleaning up neighborhoods and caring for the environment. Others are centered on community events and gatherings designed to bring residents together. Tenant engagement is another area receiving support, along with youth programs and activities focused on healthy eating and cooking.

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Other projects are aimed more broadly at helping neighbors build stronger connections with one another.

The variety of projects is one reason city officials are encouraging additional organizations and businesses to become funding partners. As applications increase, additional financial support can allow the program to reach more residents and support more ideas.

The city is now looking to expand its network of partners beyond the organizations already involved. Businesses, organizations and financial institutions are being encouraged to join Canandaigua National Bank, ESL Federal Credit Union and the Rochester Area Community Foundation in supporting Neighbors In Action.

For residents, the program provides a way to move an idea from a neighborhood conversation into an actual project. For the city and its partners, the projects offer information about what residents see as important in their communities.

The next Neighbors In Action application cycle is scheduled to open in early 2027. Until then, the current year’s expanded group of 82 funded projects will continue adding to the program’s growing record of resident-led work throughout Rochester.

With the program now entering its third year, city officials and community partners are looking to build on the momentum created during its first two years and bring even more neighborhood ideas to life.