Community to decide which Grand Rapids projects receive federal funding

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – Beginning Friday, the people of Grand Rapids will be able to vote on which community projects they think should receive federal COVID-19 aid.

Those 13 and older can vote in three ways between Friday and October 5: online, at your local branch of the Grand Rapids Public Library, or at one of several Pull Up and Vote events. For more on voting see Participatory Budgeting Grand Rapids website.

The PBGR Steering Committee was Taking pitches from the community for months and has selected 27 finalists. A full list of these finalists and how much money they would get are listed on the city’s website. There is a wide range of areas of focus, including but not limited to library or park upgrading, education, lead pipe removal, affordable childcare, anti-violence programs, and clean-up and beautification work.

PBGR was founded decide how to use approximately $2 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds. The money is split between the city’s three boroughs, but not evenly: projects within the first borough will receive a total of $600,000, the second borough will receive $400,000, and $1 million will go to the third borough. The distribution model was determined in response to demographic, economic factors, and historical differences.