In the NoMa BID’s ongoing quest to spruce up their neighborhood, they now have a $50,000 matching grant awarded by the D.C. Commission on Arts and Humanities for the installation of public art. They intend to use it for artwork along First Street NE, an area currently zoned for mixed-use development. The cash is through the Public Art Building Communities grant program, “which offers funds to eligible artists and nonprofit organizations for the creation and installation of permanent public art projects in the District, including sculptures, mosaics, murals, special paving, custom benches, artistic gates, and more.” Local artists, take note: the NoMa BID is putting out a call for artists very soon (keep your eye on their web site), with hopes to have the work completed by fall of 2009.