Mayor Cogswell announces the City of Charleston mini-grant award winners for the Ardmore-Sherwood Forest neighborhood

Mayor Cogswell announced the first round of mini-grant winners for the Love Your Block program, a resident-led initiative focused on small-scale projects that create lasting community impact. The city received 39 applications from dedicated residents and community groups proposing creative solutions to address local challenges and work together with city government to improve neighborhoods and public spaces.

The Love Your Block program, powered by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins, brings city leaders and residents together to build stronger neighborhoods, one block at a time. The 25 selected projects reflect a strong commitment to community pride, neighborhood beautification, and civic engagement, aligning with Charleston’s priorities around reducing blight and assisting in community revitalization.

Winning projects include:

• The Ardmore-Sherwood Forest Native Pollinator Garden and Community Seed Bank: This project supports a resident-led initiative aimed at creating a space for native wildflowers and will provide a seed bank so that other neighbors can easily replicate this approach to sustainable green spaces.
• The Pink House’s Exterior Repair and beautification: This Community Resource Center will receive funding to support activities such as pressure washing, painting, landscaping and the repair of a wheelchair ramp.
• Neighborhood Clean-up and Repairs: Multiple homeowners will receive assistance with debris removal, exterior repairs and beautification.

“As Charleston continues to invest in resident-driven solutions, Love Your Block plays a vital role in fostering collaboration between local government and community members,” said Mayor Cogswell. “By providing mini-grants and hands-on support, the program helps residents transform public spaces, strengthen neighborhood connections, and build a greater sense of ownership and pride in their communities. I extend my congratulations to all the award recipients and express gratitude to the city’s partners and residents, and to the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins, for making this initiative possible.”

About the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University

The Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University works to advance public sector innovation across the globe by marrying cutting-edge practice with world-class research to transform the culture of government, deliver exceptional results for residents, and inspire trust in public service. Launched in 2021 in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Johns Hopkins University, the Center supports programs that equip local governments to unlock the insight, talent, and energy of their residents in cities across the globe. For more information, please visit publicinnovation.jhu.edu.