Plano Neighborhood Services has moved to 777 E. 15th St. The building was completely renovated to fit the growing needs of our department. The new building includes two floors, additional conference rooms, a larger training room and natural light. The new location will provide easier access to residents traveling by public transportation.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the new office remains closed to the public. In the meantime, you can reach us at 972-208-8150 or via email at neighborhoods@plano.gov.

Every September the North Texas Food Bank hosts a peanut butter drive to help combat hunger in Collin County. Mayor LaRosilliere says, “This is the time of year where our community comes together to spread hope with their generosity and care." For the second year, Plano Neighborhood Services is helping reach the 220,000 pounds of peanut butter goal by hosting the Nuttiest Neighborhood Award.

Tuesday, September 1 through Wednesday, September 30, the neighborhood that collects the most peanut butter per household will be honored with the title of “The Nuttiest Neighborhood.” All registered neighborhood groups are encouraged to participate.

Due to COVID-19, the drive is going virtual which includes more ways to donate! Visit our website for more information or contact a BEST Neighborhoods Division team member at 972-208-8150 or via email at BEST@plano.gov.

Utilizing $200,000 in CARES Act funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Plano Neighborhood Services created the Small Business Grant Program to provide emergency grants to businesses in Plano who have been impacted by COVID-19. This emergency funding prevents the closure of businesses with low to moderate income owners and allows businesses to retain low or moderate income employees who would otherwise be laid off.

Since June, eight businesses with 15 or fewer employees have received grants to cover their operating expenses, including a martial arts academy, restaurant, staffing service and dog boarding kennel. Once all applications have been reviewed, our program will assist at least 20 Plano small businesses with emergency grant funding.

Collin Cares offers emergency assistance with rent, mortgage, utilities and food for Collin County residents who lost 25% or more of their income since March 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Low and moderate income Plano residents who don’t meet this criteria but have experienced other COVID-related economic impacts can apply for assistance through the City’s Homelessness Prevention Program by calling the Assistance Center of Collin County at 972-422-1850.

With mortgage interest rates at a record low, now is a great time to purchase a home. The First Time Homebuyer program offers forgivable loans up to $55,000 for qualified low to moderate income families looking to purchase a home in Plano. The next Homebuyer Education Class is Saturday, August 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If you already own a home and want to renovate, check out the Great Update Rebate. This program helps homeowners with the financial burden of repairing older homes. If you qualify, the City of Plano may contribute up to $5,000 towards your home repairs.

Without a proper foundation maintenance plan, your home could experience serious structural issues and eventually begin to fail. Ward off serious foundation issues and keep repair costs low with these five tips:

Neighborhood Services has developed a plan for volunteer groups to work with families during the COVID-19 pandemic through the Plano CARES and Love Where You Live programs.

The plan includes volunteer and staff guidance, and recommendations to ensure volunteer groups, families and staff continue to stay as safe as possible. Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities.

Applications are open for the 2020 Neighborhood Leadership Academy! The academy is for Voluntary HOAs, Neighborhood Associations and Crime Watch groups. Groups will meet once a month to build board leadership, skill sets and learn how to strengthen outreach and engagement within their community.

The program will run from October 2020 to September 2021 with a mixture of virtual and in person (depending on COVID-19) class sessions. In person sessions include complimentary dinner and allow for more networking time with other neighborhood groups. Apply now!

Connect with us on BEST Break, our virtual version of Neighbors Connect! Our next meetings will be held on Wednesday, August 19 to discuss Libraries: More Than Books! You'll learn about programs and services Plano Public Library offers from the comfort of your home.

Join us at noon every first and third Wednesday of the month! Don’t miss your chance to win prizes and connect with your neighbors. Email best@plano.gov for more information.

I help oversee grants that provide housing and social services to people with a low income and people experiencing homelessness. During the pandemic, I have worked with our team to develop strategies that respond to the needs of residents and businesses who have lost income due to closures, including the Small Business Grant and Tenant Based Rental Assistance programs. The past few months have brought new challenges, but I am grateful that we have been able to provide some relief to our community!

I believe that all people are worthy of dignity, justice and a safe, stable place to call home. I sought a career in public service, where I could put these beliefs into action through my work. If I wasn’t doing this, I think I would be in a creative field like graphic design or fine arts.

Working with such a competent, friendly team of people. I have never met anyone with Team Plano who wasn’t willing to go the extra mile to help a resident or coworker.

I want to go to Australia to dive the Great Barrier Reef.

I love to be out in nature. As long as the sun is out, you can find me traveling around DFW to bike, camp, swim and paddleboard. I also like to draw and try new recipes.

My neighborhood was built in the 1950’s, so we have our driveways out in front and chain link fences in our backyards. I like how easy this makes it to stay connected with my neighbors, as we pass each other coming and going throughout the week.

I was the Program Director at a nonprofit providing emergency assistance for people in financial crisis.

My favorite place in Plano is Oak Point Park. I like that is has a little bit of everything – hiking trails, paved paths for walking/biking and a pond where you can kayak or paddleboard.