Sacramentans cast their votes recently to select which projects will be funded through the City’s Measure U Committee’s Participatory Budgeting Pilot Program.
A total of $1 million was available with $500,000 allocated to the north area of Sacramento and $500,000 allocated to the south area of Sacramento.
Eligible residents who reside in the specific neighborhoods in the north and south areas of Sacramento voted for projects between Oct. 12 and Nov. 11. The winning projects are as follows:
North Area Winning Projects
- Neighborhood Cleanup Grants ($60,000): Funding for community groups to fund cleanup events around the Old North Sacramento/Gardenland/Del Paso Heights areas.
- Work and Mentoring Programs For Northeast Sacramento Youth ($100,000): Funding for organizations to implement youth development programs, including vocational skills training and mentorship.
- A Second Chance Career Opportunity for the Youth ($200,000): Funding for a three-month summer job/internship that provides work experience in a trade or computer skills for youth 17 to 22 years of age.
- Garden and Farmers Market ($140,000): Funding to support a mobile farmers market program that offers affordable food, cooking classes and community education to community members.
South Area Winning Projects
- Teaching Tech ($100,000): Funding for in-school and afterschool digital skills training that teaches students how to code, design and educate.
- Additional Literacy Support for Elementary Students ($100,000): Funding for literacy programs that assist students in multiple grades who are behind in reading ability.
- South Sacramento Entrepreneurial and Career Academy ($125,000): Funding for youth and adult entrepreneurship training in South Sacramento.
- Transportation Van for Underserved and Unhoused Youth in Oak Park ($75,000): Funding to purchase a van and provide free and reliable transportation services for underserved students to access learning opportunities.
- Beautify Sacramento ($75,000): Funding for trash receptacles and pick-ups along streets of Sacramento in the vicinity of Meadowview/Mack Road.
- Sacramento Area Homeless Services Event 2023 ($25,000): Funding for a one-time event for people experiencing homelessness to receive services and enjoy food, music and community in a safe place.
The City of Sacramento will be opening applications in early 2023 for community-based organizations to competitively apply to implement these projects. Funding decisions will be made by a selection panel that consists of volunteer community members who developed the final ballot proposals, along with members of the Measure U Committee.
Participatory budgeting is a process in which community members decide directly how to spend a portion of a city’s budget. Community members submitted their ideas this past spring on how to spend $1 million in Measure U funds.
After receiving 550 ideas, a group of residents volunteering as proposal delegates prioritized 22 ideas that appeared on a north or south area ballot. The winning projects were identified in order of total votes received until each area’s $500,000 was expended.
Potential applicants who wish to be considered as implementing organizations should check cityofsacramento.org/pb for updates announcing when the application will open.