The city of East Lansing will hold a workshop tonight for area resident groups interested in receiving matching grants for community projects.

The grants, awarded by the city through the Community Improvement Challenge Program, allow community organizations like neighborhood associations or churches, to complete expensive programs they would not otherwise be able to afford.

During the meeting at 7 p.m. in City Hall Conference Room A, 410 Abbott Road, city officials will be on hand to help residents fill out the applications.

The program began in 1995 to make projects such as street light installation, playground facilities and landscaping more affordable.

“It was intended to be a simpler way for neighborhood associations and other religious groups to get a 50-50 matching grant for improvement projects,” Ron Springer, historic preservation officer in the planning and community development department.

Although the Capital Improvement Program is required by state law and has been in place since the 1930s, Springer said, most small projects slipped through the cracks while larger projects such as new firehouses were given money.

The city fund for the community program is $25,000, down from $50,000 in its first two years.

East Lansing City Manager Ted Staton said the biggest benefit of the program is the building of community.

“There have been a number of tangible physical improvements to the city, but it’s also been a way for neighbors to organize and band together to improve the neighborhood,” Staton said.

But perhaps the program’s biggest impact can be measured by the response of those like Sally Silver, former president of the Bailey Community Association.

While the Bailey Community Association has not had to take advantage of the program because it is are eligible for federal grant money, Silver says the program is important to the East Lansing community at large.

“Neighborhoods want to accomplish something - little physical improvements - but they don’t have the money to do it on their own,” she said.

The final application deadline for the grants is 5 p.m. on Jan. 14 to the Department of Planning and Community Development. Springer said those awarded grants will be notified by April.

And while Springer said he would be happy with any application turned in, he would especially like to see an application from a student organization like a co-op or greek house.

“Student groups have always been welcome to apply for these - fraternities or sororities - but we’ve never had one,” Springer said. “We’re trying to reach out to them. Any group that has a good idea that will make a meaningful change to the community can contact us.”

To pick up an application for the grant program or to confirm your attendance at tonight’s meeting call (517)319-6930.