All-Star recognition for Morgantown Mosaic program

MORGANTOWN - The city of Morgantown was recognized with an All-Star Community Award during last week's West Virginia Municipal League Annual Conference in Charleston.

One of eight cities recognized under the "Enrichment" category, the award is given in recognition of programs that improve the quality and/or quantity of city service delivery or improve the physical or economic vitality of the community.

The WVML recognized Morgantown for its Mosaic Neighborhood Engagement Initiative created last October in an effort to support small, neighborhood-level projects that foster local identity, pride and community connection.

The mini-grant program works through an application process scored by a selection committee with the Neighborhood Coordinating Council. Applications are accepted quarterly.

"We build stronger connections between our residents when we have projects for our residents to engage in that are important to them," Morgantown City Councilor Mark Downs previously said of the program.

In May, the city selected its first three projects to receive Mosaic funding.

Those projects, and grant awards are:

Woodburn Neighborhood Gateway Landscaping Project – $500 – The funding will support the creation and maintenance of a garden framing the neighborhood entrance sign at the intersection of Richwood and Monongalia avenues.

Greenmont Neighborhood Sign Project – $2,000 – The funding will support the creation and placement of a neighborhood sign to be designed by local artists and residents and located at the Arch Street island.

Oak Grove Cemetery Restoration Project (1st Ward) – $2,000 – The funding will aid ongoing efforts to restore many of the large and historic monuments that have deteriorated or been damaged over time.

The All-Star Community Awards are just some of the accolades the WVML presents each year during its annual conference.

"The West Virginia Municipal League Annual Awards recognize the innovation, dedication and leadership taking place in communities of every size across our state," WVML Executive Director Susan Economou said. "From transformative community projects to individual public servants whose commitment makes local government stronger, this year's recipients exemplify the work being done every day to improve the quality of life for West Virginians."