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If selected for a SPAAR Key Communities Grant, SPAAR would additionally bring forward the city’s <br />program for additional funding through the National Association of Realtors (NAR) grant program. <br />These additional opportunities include: <br />Housing Opportunity Grant <br />Housing Opportunity Grants empower Realtor Associations to advance affordable housing through <br />improved systems, programs, and policies—positioning Realtors as community leaders in expanding <br />housing access. There are three tiers for award amount, depending on the project: $3,000, $7,500, and <br />$15,000 <br />Placemaking Grants <br />Placemaking Grants fund state and local Realtor association-led projects that create new, outdoor <br />public gathering spaces and destinations in a community on unused or underused sites. There are two <br />tiers for award amount: $3,000 & $7,500 <br />Smart Growth Action Grants <br />Smart Growth Grants support state and local REALTOR® associations’ efforts to advance programs, <br />policies, and initiatives aligned with one or more of the 10 Smart Growth Principles. There are three <br />award tiers, depending on the project: $3,000, $7,500, and $15,000. <br />Community Connections Engagement Program <br />In 2026, a new Community Connections Engagement Program will be advertised in the newsletter and <br />through the city’s various communication platforms. The Community Connection Engagement <br />Program has three subprograms, developed as part of several strategic action items and insights from <br />the Community Inclusion Team's Report. These subprograms are: Monthly Community Connections <br />Series, Community Ambassador Program, and Community History Lecture Series. <br />Monthly Community Connections Series <br />Monthly “government” topic events where community members can engage with the city and <br />other entities in a casual setting. This series will be held at various times and locations, will <br />have food available at each event, and will plan child-friendly activities for attendees who need <br />to bring their children. This program structure was developed utilizing the city’s public <br />engagement barriers and enablers matrix. <br />All topics and locations are confirmed for 2026 as outlined in Table 1 below. <br />Table 1: Community Connection Series Information <br />Date Location Topic Time <br />January 22, 2026 Little Canada <br />Elementary School Upcoming City Plans for 2026 6:00 PM <br />February 26, 2026 Qamaria Coffee Coffee with a Cop 4:00 PM <br />March 26, 2026 Montreal Courts <br />Community Room Fire Safety 6:30 PM <br />April 26, 2026 Bailey Hall Business Community Meetup 11:00 AM <br />May 28, 2026 Hmong Senior Center Community Development 6:00 PM <br />June 25, 2026 Spooner Park Upper <br />Shelter <br />Metropolitan Mosquito Control <br />District 9:00 AM <br />July 23, 2026 Pioneer Park Recycling with Waste <br />Management 1:00 PM <br />August 27, 2026,Treasure Restaurant <br />and Bar City Strategic Plan Status 4:00 PM