The city of Seattle announced five civic improvement projects in West Seattle won grants of up to $15,000 each in the latest quarterly round of "small and simple grants" from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

The city awarded money to 21 community projects around the city. In each case, the local community matches the city's contribution with an equal or greater amount of money, volunteer labor and donated materials.

Alki's smaller replica of the Statue of Liberty has been recast and now needs a new plaza on the Alki promenade. A $15,000 matching grant is going to the Northwest Programs for the Arts, which led the restoration campaign.

Another $15,000 small and simple grant goes to Southwest Youth and Family Services in Delridge. It will be spent on a program called Chicas Hermosas, for Spanish-speaking Latino high-school girls to increase their self-sufficiency. The girls will get training in basic home repairs and car maintenance in addition to learning about the arts, cosmetics, manicure and pedicure skills.

Meanwhile Comite Latino at West Seattle High School received $15,000 to help pay for a one-day conference for 500 bilingual migrant families from throughout South Seattle. The conference will encourage Latino teens to finish high school and show them numerous ways to get into higher education.

West Seattle nonprofit organization Megawatt received $11,552 small and simple grant to help other nonprofit community groups and neighborhood associations develop as organizations.

Finally, a $15,000 grant will help volunteers restore Pelley Place ravine. The ravine is on Murray Avenue, northeast of Lowman Beach Park.