WCNA Grant Avenue Parkway Curb Appeal Program


Thank you for your interest in the West Central’s Grant Avenue Parkway Curb Appeal Program. WCNA is excited to work with you to improve our historic neighborhood. Our purpose is to unite neighbors to build community, enhance the housing stock along Grant Avenue Parkway, and promote West Central to homeowners as a great place to live, work, and play. 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS 

  1. Contact WCNA at info@westcentralspringfield.org or 417-569-8866 to discuss your property’s eligibility.

  2. Complete all information entirely and accurately on the application form. If any information is incomplete, the WCNA Board will request clarification or additional information, as applicable. 

  3. Each participating homeowner must complete and submit, with this application, a Scope of Work form for eligible improvements to be completed. The WCNA Board will follow up as needed to clarify. 

  4. Provide “before” pictures of the areas where work is to be completed, for the Scope of Work. Digital pictures are preferred but printed pictures will also be accepted.  

  5. The applicant must return this application and supporting documentation to WCNA. Digital applications are preferred but paper applications will be accepted. 

  6. Approved applications will be eligible for up to $200 in matching grants for curb appeal improvements.

Application Period opens on August 15th and all complete applications submitted in August will be reviewed by September 15th. Subsequent applications can be submitted on a monthly rolling basis through November 30th.  A complete application received on or before the last business day of each month will be considered. Applications will be reviewed promptly. WCNA plans to review applications received any time in the prior month during the first two weeks of the following month.  

Grant Awards Announced on a rolling basis. Notifications will be provided directly to the homeowner via email or telephone, and letters of approval will go out via email. 

Project Completion Deadline: Ninety (90) days from the approval date or the date outlined in the individual applicant's respective Scope of Work form, as each may be amended and approved by WCNA, or such longer period as approved by WCNA at the time of application approval. 

HOW DOES THE WCNA GRANT AVENUE PARKWAY CURB APPEAL PROGRAM WORK? 

The WCNA Grant Avenue Parkway Curb Appeal Program works to strengthen our neighborhood by homeowners to make exterior improvements to their properties. 

Homeowners along Grant Avenue from Grand to College Streets are eligible. A dollar-for-dollar match, up to the $200.00 maximum award, will be provided as an incentive to complete various, eligible exterior improvements. In no way are any amounts to be made available under this Curb Appeal Program a loan, a grant, or any other such forgivable loan, or other extension of credit by WCNA, and should at no time be held out as such.

ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS AND EXPENSES 

Eligible Improvements 

Exterior improvements visible from the street may be eligible for matching funds through the WCNA Grant Avenue Parkway Curb Appeal Program.  All improvements must improve the curb appeal of the properties along the Grant Avenue Parkway from Grand Street to College Street. All participants shall comply with all applicable City of Springfield codes and secure any applicable building permits. 

  • Porch and soffit repair • Sidewalk and driveway repairs

  • Porch construction • Front yard landscaping (at least 50% native Ozarks plantings)

  • Porch painting • Mailboxes and house plaques/signs

  • Paint for siding and trim • Shutters

  • Exterior lights • Junk and debris removal and disposal

  • Front doors • Flower boxes 

  • Front windows • House numbers

  • Fence removal (note: new or replacement must be a decorative yard fence)


This is not a complete list. Other improvements and repairs may be eligible, as determined by the WCNA Board, in its sole discretion. 

Eligible Expenses 

Expenses eligible for reimbursement under the GAP Curb Appeal Program include the actual amount expended by the participating homeowners for the eligible improvements constructed in accordance with program requirements, as documented through receipts and paid invoices. This includes all hard costs for supplies and materials. It also includes labor expenses for hired contractors. It does not include the cost of the work performed by the participating homeowner or any occupant of the property to be improved by the homeowner, including such person’s labor costs. Donated labor or supplies are not eligible for reimbursement. 

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY, SELECTION, AND REIMBURSEMENT 

Project Eligibility 

  • Homeowners with properties on Grant Avenue from Grand Street to College Street. 

  • Each applicant must complete an application and then attach a Scope of Work form.

  • Grantees must participate in a Grant Avenue Block Party during the 2026 Lantern Walk on Oct. 3 (details to be provided at a later date).

  • Each applicant must be the owner of record for the property as shown on the Greene County Assessor’s website. Contract for deed properties are not allowed.

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY, SELECTION, AND REIMBURSEMENT 

Project Eligibility 

  • Homeowners with properties on Grant Avenue from Grand Street to College Street. 

  • Each applicant must complete an application and then attach a Scope of Work form.

  • Grantees must participate in a Grant Avenue Block Party during the 2026 Lantern Walk on Oct. 3 (details to be provided at a later date).

  • Each applicant must be the owner of record for the property as shown on the Greene County Assessor’s website. Contract for deed properties are not allowed.

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY, SELECTION, AND REIMBURSEMENT, continued 

  • Property taxes must be current for their properties.

  • Each participating property must be a residential property and classified as such on the Greene County Assessor’s website.

  • The improvements to be made by each participating property owner must be eligible improvements for the WCNA GAP Curb Appeal Program standards.

  • A complete application must be submitted and approved by WCNA prior to improvements being made. Costs expended before the team’s application is approved by WCNA are not eligible for reimbursement.

  • Applications that don’t meet these guidelines will be rejected and returned. The homeowner will be given the opportunity to answer questions and revise their application. WCNA’s approval of an application does not guarantee reimbursement. Such reimbursement is subject to further compliance with program requirements.

  • Applications may be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • In consideration of applications, and other GAP Curb Appeal Program submissions, WCNA will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, sex, age, or familial status, or another protected class as identified under applicable law.

 

Reimbursement Process for Applications that are Accepted 

  • Upon completion, each participating homeowner will fill out a reimbursement request form provided by WCNA. 

  • The participating homeowners requesting reimbursement will submit that form to WCNA, along with all paid receipts and invoices for eligible improvements and expenses. 

  • The participating homeowners requesting reimbursement will also submit “after” pictures of the completed work for which reimbursement is sought. 

  • Paperwork will be reviewed by the WCNA Board. 

  • Homeowners will be notified by the WCNA Board if there are any questions regarding the request for reimbursement or if additional information is necessary for review of the work or documentation. 

  • Eligible expenses will be calculated based on documentation submitted and are otherwise subject to the maximum match amount and compliance with program requirements. 

  • Upon the WCNA Board’s approval of a reimbursement request, in whole or in part, a check will be issued to the participating homeowner at the address on file. 


Until the WCNA Board determines an eligible homeowner and their improvement(s) fully complies with all requirements of the GAP Curb Appeal Program, and WCNA provides a check for the applicable eligible match amounts to the participating homeowner, no participating homeowner is entitled to any program funds, whatsoever.