Hoboken was selected as one of 25 local governments nationwide to join Love Your Block on September 30, a program that provides $70,000 to support resident-led neighborhood improvements. The Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University announced the new participants on September 22, with Hoboken joining municipalities across 20 states.
The city’s proposed focus area includes the Hoboken Housing Authority campus and the surrounding southwest Hoboken neighborhood. Residents will help identify local needs and lead projects to improve spaces in their community.
The funding can support mini-grants, volunteer activities, neighborhood beautification, and community partnerships. The city has not yet outlined individual projects in its announcement, but described the initiative as an opportunity for residents to take a direct role in improving neighborhood quality of life.
“In Hoboken, we know that some of the best ideas for improving our community come directly from the people who live here,” Jabbour said in the announcement. She added that the program would give residents resources and support to turn their ideas into projects.
Hoboken will also receive expert support from the Bloomberg Center and a dedicated Love Your Block Fellow to assist with the work. Across participating cities, the program supports efforts such as clearing vacant lots and reclaiming public spaces. Jersey City and Newark were also selected for the latest group, making Hoboken one of three New Jersey municipalities included.
Love Your Block began in 2009 with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies. According to the program’s website, it has helped 50 local governments engage more than 88,000 residents across 33 states. Those participants have removed more than 7 million pounds of trash, cleaned over 550,000 square feet of graffiti, and created nearly 800 art displays.
The program also aims to strengthen relationships between residents and local government. Its approach gives residents a role in identifying problems and working with city officials to address them, while providing funding and assistance to carry out the improvements.
Other cities have already used Love Your Block funding for neighborhood projects. In April 2026, Columbia, MO, announced 10 selected projects from 23 applications. The projects included removing invasive plants and adding native plants at a local park, creating a pollinator garden, and refreshing a neighborhood mural. The city also reported that the program funded 11 projects in 2025.
Residents interested in participating will need the local program details, including information on how to get involved. The city said in its September 30 announcement that additional details would be released in the coming weeks.
