Duluth receives blight reduction grant

Duluth has been selected as one of eight communities to receive a $100,000 dollar blight reduction grant. This is all in part to address Duluth residents’ concerns about abandoned waste.

The grant will be used to supply community members with $40,000 worth of mini grants.

Lincoln Park and Central Hillside residents will be the first to apply for up to $1,500 dollars to create an event or activity to remove blight or help improve city beautification.

Overall this will give the life safety division a better handle on managing blight complaints as 78% percent of complaints in 2020 were related to abandoned trash.

Deputy Chief of Life Safety, Jon Otis says, “The benefit of this grant is that it breaks down a barrier between the community and city hall. And it gives citizens a tool to kind of help themselves to get to know there neighbors and to use some volunteer resources, along with the support of those of us in city hall."

The Love Your Block program grant will be offered to Duluth as a two year grant.