2016 Scholarships
The application period for RVP scholarships has now closed. Applicants will be notified of their status shortly.
Thank you for your interest in attending the 7th national Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference (RVP)! Themed “In Service of People and Place,” the conference will explore how work to reclaim vacant properties can improve the wellbeing of residents and the places they call home.
Community Progress is committed to ensuring that RVP reflects the diversity of communities that we serve. The RVP scholarship program provides assistance to applicants with financial need who strive to improve the quality of life in economically disadvantaged communities and whose commitment to vacant property reclamation will be reinforced by their participation in the conference. The scholarship program supports and strengthens the efforts of grassroots organizations, community leaders, and public agencies that work closely with, or represent, economically disadvantaged communities to repurpose vacant and abandoned property. Scholarship applications are due July 13, 2016.
Access the scholarship application here.
Program Guidelines and Requirements
- Eligibility: Eligible applicants are representatives from the nonprofit community, public agencies, and citizen activists who are serving communities that face vacancy, abandonment, and blight, as well as students pursuing education related to neighborhood stabilization and vacant property reclamation. Individuals who have received scholarship awards for a previous RVP conference are not eligible.
- Awards: The scholarship will cover registration for conference activities from September 28-30, 2016. Applicants traveling from outside the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. region may apply for reimbursement for two nights of hotel accommodations. The scholarship does not cover travel expenses.
Selection Criteria
Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference scholarship applications will be reviewed by Center for Community Progress staff. Scholarship recipients will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated commitment to neighborhood stabilization efforts and vacant property reclamation in communities facing vacancy, abandonment, and blight.
- Demonstrated commitment to social equity in community development
- Financial need
- Willingness to remain engaged with Community Progress after the conference and to continue supporting vacant property reclamation work within communities facing vacancy, abandonment, and blight
- Geographic diversity
Important Dates
June 23, 2016: Scholarship program announced
July 13, 2016: Scholarship application deadline
August 1, 2016: Scholarships awarded by this date
August 31, 2016: Registration deadline for scholarship recipients
For questions regarding the Scholarship Program please contact RVP@communityprogress.net