Eligible non-profits can apply until Sept. 30 for grants to help neighborhood improvement projects.

Wells Fargo, the nation's leading home mortgage lender, today announced eligible non-profits may apply for a grant as part of a new $11.4 million UrbanLIFT^SM community grant program to help accelerate economic recovery and neighborhood improvement projects in 25 cities.

"We're committed to advance community stabilization in cities significantly impacted by the housing down turn and improving the quality of life for everyone in our communities," said Jon Campbell, Executive Vice-president and head of Government and Community Relations at Wells Fargo."UrbanLIFT^SM will help provide local non-profits with additional resources they need to create safe, sustainable neighborhoods."

The UrbanLIFT^SM community grant program, funded by Wells Fargo and administered by NeighborWorks America®, is designed to provide support to local non-profits for large neighborhood improvement projects in 25 cities that have substantial diverse populations and have been affected by foreclosures. The eligible cities were determined as part of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Nonprofits may apply for the grants to support neighborhood stabilization efforts in 25 cities with diverse populations including: Phoenix; Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Modesto, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, Santa Ana, San Jose, Stockton and Vallejo, Calif.; Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and West Palm Beach, FL; Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, TX; Detroit; Kansas City and St. Louis, MO; Las Vegas; New York; Memphis, TN; and Virginia Beach, VA.

NeighborWorks America® will administer the grant funds and determine eligibility. Approximately $458,000 will be available for each of the communities. Eligible grant applications must support neighborhood stabilization efforts for one of the 25 cities affected by the housing crisis. Local, regional and national 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations may apply for grants to support four types of projects: single-family housing rehabilitation, demolition, neighborhood improvement and housing-related site improvements.

"This represents a significant commitment by Wells Fargo to invest in programs that will strengthen minority communities affected by foreclosure," said JK Huey, Senior Vice- president of Asset Management and Preservation with Wells Fargo Home Lending Servicing. "We appreciate the perspective and collaboration with HUD, along with their efforts to shape these initiatives."

Local, regional and national 501(c)(3) non-profits that want to apply for the UrbanLIFT^SM community grant program may do so at www.urbanapplication.org. For questions or to request applications, non-profits can call 202-733-6980 or email urbanapplication@nw.org. The deadline to apply for grants is Sept. 30.

The UrbanLIFT^SMcommunity grant program is the most recent commitment Wells Fargo has made through its LIFT family of initiatives including the NeighborhoodLIFT^SM and CityLIFT^SM programs, a combined $170 million effort for 20 housing markets deeply affected by the housing crisis. Since its launch in February 2012, LIFT programs have helped create more than 4,100 homeowners with the support of down payment assistance and homebuyer education in collaboration with NeighborWorks America®, the national non-profit's affiliates and local city officials