Monrovia, Calif.

The Monrovia Area Partnership was developed in 2006 as a comprehensive approach to deliver services, eliminate crime and blight, and empower neighborhoods by fostering activism, volunteerism and community pride. The three-year program was established with a $1.2 million budget for property improvement grants. Grant recipients agree to attend a code education workshop, participate in at least one volunteer project, eliminate chain link fencing, place a sign on their property marketing the program, and disseminate city information to their neighbors. Home improvement grants come from redevelopment funds, and the code enforcement education program is funded through Community Development Block Grants. So far, more than 70 grants have been awarded for repairs and improvements, which are made by at-risk youth supervised by a licensed contractor. Police also have increased uniformed patrols, the Fire Department has offered fire prevention and emergency preparedness instruction, the Public Works Department has replaced damaged street lighting and repaired roads, and the Community Services staff developed a mobile literacy and recreation van. The Human Resources Departments offers applications and assistance for city employment and summer internships at city jobs for teens.

Since the program began, Monrovia has seen a marked reduction in blight and crime, volunteerism has increased, and "points of contact" regularly report graffiti and blight conditions to the city.

Population: 39,147

Project: Monrovia Area Partnership

Cost: $800,000

Date completed: Phase I: January 2008

Agencies involved: All Monrovia departments, the Community Development Commission of Los Angeles County

Private companies involved: The Monrovia Unified School District, Santa Anita Family YMCA, Volunteer Center of the San Gabriel Valley, Monrovia-Arcadia Ministerial Association