Neighborhood Association Resources

The City of Waco provides neighborhood associations with a variety of resources to support their work in making the neighborhoods better, cleaner, and safer places to live. For more information about neighborhood association resources, check out the links below or contact us at neighborhoods@wacotx.gov or (254) 750-5774.

Administrative Support Services

Starting a neighborhood association can seem overwhelming. The Office of Neighborhood Engagement is available to support neighborhood associations through each step of the process. Services available include:

  • Organizing a new neighborhood association
  • Writing bylaws
  • Assistance with filing the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State
  • Assistance applying for a federal Employer Identification Number
  • Assistance submitting the annual state franchise taxes
  • General advice on day-to-day operations, succession planning, professional development and membership engagement
  • Connecting the neighborhood association to city departments

Neighborhood Association Handbook

Neighborhood Association HandbookTo learn more about how to start a new neighborhood association or how you could improve an existing association, check out the City of Waco Neighborhood Association Handbook.

The handbook provides strategies on:

  • How to run meetings
  • How to set up a new association
  • How to recruit and engagement neighbors
  • Helpful City of Waco contact information
  • Customizable templates, including bylaws, agendas, sign in sheets and more

Neighborhood Grant Program

The City of Waco offers the Neighborhood Grant Program to Waco neighborhood associations to support them with beautification, identity, and community-based projects. The grant awards up to $10,000 for public projects, such as neighborhood events, neighborhood identity signs, park benches, and so much more!  

Neighborhood Grant Program

Neighborhood Leaders' Network

The Waco Neighborhood Leaders' Network is a quarterly meeting for neighborhood association leaders to connect and learn from each other and to hear from City of Waco staff on upcoming projects and professional development opportunities. The Office of Neighborhood Engagement hosts the meetings at various city facilities in different neighborhoods. To find an upcoming meeting:

Printing & Mailing

The Graphics Division of the Communications & Marketing Department provides neighborhood associations with $200 each fiscal year for printing and mailing. Please contact the Office of Neighborhood Engagement at (254) 750-5774 or neighborhoods@wacotx.gov to submit your request.

Fees (subject to change):
  • Black & white printing: $0.04 per page
  • Color printing: $0.28 per page
Printing Services & Options (subject to availability):
  • Envelopes
  • 8.5x11-inch bright-colored paper
  • 8.5x11-inch paper
  • 8.5x14-inch paper
  • 11x17-inch paper
  • 8.5x11-inch cardstock
  • 11x17-inch cardstock
  • Laminating, folding and binding
  • Bulk mailings

Please contact the Office of Neighborhood Engagement if you need any design or translation assistance.

Yard Signs

Neighborhood associations also receive a separate $200 budget to use toward printing yard signs. Cost is subject to change and depends on the amount of color used. To request a quote, please contact the Office of Neighborhood Engagement at (254) 750-5774 or neighborhoods@wacotx.gov.

Specifications:

  • 18x24-inch yard sign
  • Corrugated plastic material
  • Printed on both sides
  • Printed in color

Please follow City of Waco ordinances when placing your sign in the public right of way.

If you need design assistance, please contact the Office of Neighborhood Engagement.

Neighborhood Clean Ups

The Solid Waste Department provides supplies and roll-off dumpsters for three neighborhood cleanup events each fiscal year. Two cleanups must be held on Baylor's Steppin' Out community volunteering days held in the fall and spring semester.

The third date can be chosen by the neighborhood but must be coordinated with Keep Waco Beautiful and the Solid Waste Department at least one month in advance of the clean- up date. To learn more, contact the Solid Waste Department at (254) 299-2606.

City Facilities

The City of Waco offers neighborhood associations meeting spaces at community centers, libraries and parks. If you need assistance booking a meeting space, please contact the Office of Neighborhood Engagement at (254) 750-5774 or neighborhoods@wacotx.gov.

Events

Neighborhood associations can receive one waiver per year for the special event application fee. For help planning an event at a city facility, contact the Parks & Recreation Department at (254) 750-5627.

Planning Notices

The Office of Neighborhood Engagement forwards public hearing notices, such as zoning cases, special permit applications and other proposed changes, to the neighborhood association presidents. The Planning Division of the Development Services Department also mails the notices to residents 200 feet around the affected property, but emailing the notice to the neighborhood association allows the association to receive the information sooner and more easily share with their neighbors.