NeighborhoodsNOW
Creating Sustainable Communities, Block by Block

NeighborhoodsNOW is our flagship revitalization program that takes a comprehensive approach to transforming promising urban-core neighborhoods into more stable communities. It is the most exciting community development initiative in decades.

Launched in 2006, NeighborhoodsNOW focuses on six targeted urban-core neighborhoods where residents worked together to complete a vision for their neighborhood – a “Quality of Life Plan.” Now in its fourth year, NeighborhoodsNOW has invested more than $15 million and many projects are completed or underway.

Thanks to the Quality of Life Plans, neighborhood groups are increasing the quantity of attractive homes, attracting new businesses, improving green space and cleanliness, and strengthening many community services.

Our Strategy

Built on the premise that one entity alone cannot solve the challenges facing neglected neighborhoods, NeighborhoodsNOW brings together the private, philanthropic and public sectors in an extraordinary partnership. By infusing funding, programs, services and expertise into selected block areas, NeighborhoodsNOW is transforming them one by one.

As a pilot site for National LISC’s Sustainable Communities Program, Greater Kansas City LISC and our local partners have five Sustainable Communities goals:

1. Developing, preserving, investing in the physical environment.
2. Increasing family income and wealth.
3. Stimulating economic activity, locally and regionally.
4. Improving access to quality education.
5. Fostering livable, safe and healthy environments.

Our vision is to create Sustainable Communities – clean and safe neighborhoods where engaged citizens have a better quality of life due to greater access to jobs, child care, health care, education, green space, transportation, social services and affordable housing. Good places to live, do business, work and raise families. 

From its inception in 2006 through 2008, Greater Kansas City LISC

has invested more than $15 million through NeighborhoodsNOW initiatives.