Merrill Asset Planning

        Merrill Center

The Merrill Asset Planning committee is a sub-committee of the Merrill Revitalization Group (MRG). The project was initiated by the Merrill Community Center by applying for and receiving Community Development Block Grant funding. One of the objectives of this grant was to gather Merrill Neighborhood stakeholders in order to identify neighborhood assets and create a neighborhood strategic plan.

 

The Merrill Community Center launched the project by sponsoring a one day workshop to teach Merrill residents and agency representatives, who serve the neighborhood, the principals of Asset Based Community Development. Thirty-five people attended. Participants included a blend of Merrill Neighborhood residents and agency representatives.

 

The workshop resulted in the development of the Merrill Asset Planning Committee. MAP is made up of a core group of neighborhood residents, three resource professionals, and a planning professional provided by the City of Beloit. The group has developed a strategic plan and meets weekly to assure implementation of that plan. The group conducted a neighborhood asset inventory in order to identify community resources, gifts and talents of neighborhood residents, and neighborhood concerns.

Quarterly progress reports are made to the Beloit City Council, weekly reports are sent to the chair of the Merrill Revitalization Group, and monthly reports are given to the Merrill Community Center Board of Directors.

Since 1999, MAP has participated in the following activities:

 

· Assisting the City of Beloit to develop a Park Avenue Overlay District.

· Assisting in the acquisition of the $10,000 pass through grant from the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families that will be used for neighborhood outreach.

· Planning and installation of a new Merrill Neighborhood sign Marker.

· Placing garbage receptacles at three neighborhood locations that are high traffic and litter areas.

· Organized neighborhood clean-up events.