The Participatory Budgeting Grand Rapids (PBGR) Steering Committee today announced that it is now actively recruiting budget delegates as it enters the next phase of its participatory budgeting journey.
The PBGR team will now begin to refine and develop the 318 submitted ideas for the community’s consideration. As part of the process, it is asking for community members to serve as “Budget Delegates” to assist in proposal development. Budget Delegates will be eligible to receive a stipend, must be at least 13 years of age, and live in the Ward for which they wish to participate. CLICK HERE if you or someone you know might be interested in serving as a budget delegate.
During this phase, the PBGR team also announced that it will continue to accept project ideas to improve the city from the public. Ideas that meet specific ARPA funding priorities may be submitted for consideration in one of five ways:
- Completing the PBGR Idea Submission Survey at: https://publicinput.com/PBGrandRapids (those filing have an opportunity to also upload a video providing additional detail of the proposal).
- Texting “pb” to 73224
- Calling and providing your idea to 311 or dialing 616.456.3000
- Printing the idea submission survey PDF at PBGR.org, filling it out and returning in-person to the City’s Customer Service Center located at: 300 Monroe Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Multiple ideas may be submitted, but each should be submitted on a separate form and returned.
- Printing the idea submission survey PDF at PBGR.org, filling it out and sending it via U.S. Mail to the City’s Customer Service Center located at: 300 Monroe Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Multiple ideas may be submitted, but each should be submitted on a separate form and returned.
“PBGR is dedicated to an equitable process and while the 318 ideas submitted to date are representative of the population of the City and each Ward, we want to provide ample opportunity for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to participate,” he said. “The Steering Committee intends to continue outreach to traditionally marginalized communities during this phase and will participate in special events such as Festival of the Arts, Rock the Block and other neighborhood events over the next month. The team also is planning additional in-person and digital presentations and events to help people fill out the idea form and encourage idea submission.”
The list of ideas submitted so far through PBGR initiative are preliminary and have not yet been vetted to ensure that the ideas meet American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) qualifications or have been determined to be feasible.
Submitted ideas must fit within one or more of the following categories to be considered and eligible for funding:
- Infrastructure investments related to water, wastewater and broadband
- Evidence-based violence reduction strategies
- Remediation of lead paint or other lead hazards in homes
- Economic and health impacts of COVID-19 (includes assistance to households, small businesses and nonprofits)
- Incentive pay to front-line workers
- Investments in housing and re-housing
- Addressing educational disparities
- Investing in healthy childhood environments
The graduated ward distribution of funds includes:
- First Ward - $600,000
- Second Ward -$400,000
- Third Ward - $1,000,000
A PBGR video provides more information about ways to submit ideas and the general process. CLICK HERE to watch that video.
The PBGR Steering Committee includes: (First Ward) Mallory Patterson, Michael Scholten; (Second Ward) Doug Booth, Lisa Knight, Cailin Kelly; (Third Ward) Kristian Grant, LaKiya Thompson-Jenkins and Pastor Kenneth Hoskins.
To learn more about the project, the steering committee, or sign up for the newsletter, please visit www.PBGR.org, facebook.com/PBGrandRapids, twitter.com/PBGrandRapids, and/or email Ken Medrano at kmedrano@grand-rapids.mi.us or call Kathi Harris at 616-490-3689 or email kharris@grcity.us.
Original source can be found here.
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