(Photo source: Farmhouse Creative. Nate Howard (Director of the MLB) and Jeb Reece (Land Bank Manager at Intend Indiana) co-teach a BSU Neighborhood Studio course)

Background

  • BBN grants are no longer intended to cover expenses related to immersive learning courses.
  • Faculty who are interested in applying for immersive learning funding should work through the Office of Immersive Learning. Immersive Learning grant opportunities are available here.
  • While BBN projects may take place in a course and/or involve students, they are not required to meet the criteria of immersive learning projects.

The Office of Community Engagement is pleased to offer special funding for Faculty who are focused on improving the quality of life in Muncie through the Building Better Neighborhoods (BBN) program.

The BBN initiative connects Ball State’s resources with neighborhood development efforts across Muncie and Delaware County and is a collaboration between the Office of Community Engagement, the Muncie Action Plan, and other local agencies working to improve our community’s neighborhoods.

BBN Faculty are encouraged to connect their grant proposals to the challenges and aims articulated in Muncie Action Plan’s 2022 Strategic Investment Plan for Muncie, which highlights downtown Muncie, city neighborhoods, parks, and connective corridors. Connections may also be made to the TogetherDM county comprehensive plan. Specifically, faculty are encouraged to align their proposal with one or more of the “big things” named in the plan: quality of place, housing, and/or upward mobility.

BBN grants can cover costs of faculty-led community-engaged research projects, faculty-led co-curricular projects, or resources needed by community agencies. Expenses may include supplies, minor equipment, printing, surveys, neighborhood planning sessions, and other project-related expenses. BBN grants typically range from $500-4000.

APPLY FOR GRANT

Questions?

Faculty can get feedback on proposal ideas, potential funding amounts, or ask general questions about the application by contacting Heather Williams, Associate Director for Community Engagement and Program Manager for Building Better Neighborhoods. Eligibility is contingent on approval from the applicant’s chair and College dean. BBN proposals must submitted through Infoready.