The Calder sculpture at Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids /John Rothwell
Grand Rapidians Make Their Voices Heard in Participatory Budgeting Grand Rapids Public Vote
On Tuesday, October 18, the Participatory Budgeting Grand Rapids (PBGR) Steering Committee sent out a press release to announce that over 2,000 Grand Rapidians had taken part in its week-long community improvement project voting process that occurred earlier this month. After several months of collecting ideas from the public and refining proposals, the community has finally decided which projects will receive funding. Overall, twelve projects made the final cut:
| WARD | PROJECT | FUNDS |
| First | Affordable Childcare for 2nd & 3rd Shift Workers | $150,000 |
| First | Supporting Victims of Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking | $100,000 |
| First | Youth Affordable Housing Support | $145,000 |
| First | Cleaning Up Grand Rapids | $75,000 |
| First | Community Reading Initiative for Violence Reduction | $50,000 |
| First | Citizen Advocacy Skills Academy | $80,000 |
| Second | Mental Health Community First Responders | $350,000 |
| Second | CURE Violence (Second Ward) | $50,000 |
| Third | Lead Water Line Replacement | $500,000 |
| Third | Affordable Childcare for 2nd & 3rd Shift Workers | $150,000 |
| Third | Youth Affordable Housing Support | $145,000 |
| Third | Community-Based Violence Reduction Initiative | $205,000 |
The money that the city is allocating to these projects comes from the $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds set aside by the City of Grand Rapids -- $600,000 for the First Ward, $400,000 for the Second Ward, and $1 million for the Third Ward. To see the project descriptions and the full results of the public vote, visit the PBGR website.
Residents of Grand Rapids Reminded to Practice Caution When Raking/Blowing Leaves Near Storm Drains
As October begins to dwindle away and we approach the brisk autumn days of November, the City of Grand Rapids has sent out a press release to ask Grand Rapidians for help in ensuring that the city's storm drains remain unblocked by leaves and other debris. According to the release, "these basins are generally located next to street curbs, or in yards of residential areas and, while they generally catch large objects of debris, they are prone to becoming blocked with the leaves that invade our yards each fall." Blocked storm drains can result in street flooding and stormwater pollution.
To make sure that the drains do not end up blocked, residents are being asked to avoid raking or blowing leaves into the road near the basins and to properly dispose of any accumulated yard waste.
For more information about the city's yard waste services, visit the City of Grand Rapids' website here.
Also in the News:
- Election Day is coming up on Tuesday, November 8. For more information about the election, voter registration, polling locations, and more, visit the City of Grand Rapids' website here.
- The Power of Poison exhibition at the Grand Rapids Public Museum officially opens to the public on Saturday, October 22.
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