Voting Ends June 6: Don’t Wait Too Late to Cast Your Vote For COVID-19 Relief Projects
Durham, NC – Announced late last year, the second cycle of the City of Durham’s Participatory Budgeting (PB) Durham program formed a grant funding program to support local efforts to strengthen the community’s social and economic fabric by offering COVID-19 relief assistance. City Council approved $1 million in funding for Durham-connected nonprofit and community organizations directly serving residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing any underlying issues impacting underserved communities. (Please scroll down to watch the video explaining the entire process.)
To help rank priority areas to receive funding, residents were invited to participate in a short, online survey. After the survey closed, over 60 nonprofit and community organizations submitted applications to address the biggest needs identified through the survey, which included food access, eviction prevention, and employment opportunities. Approximately 40 budget delegates and City staff then vetted and scored the projects based upon equity, impact, and feasibility to arrive at the 31 proposals now up for a vote.
In order to help select the organizations to receive funding for COVID-19 relief assistance, all city residents and students 13 years and older were invited to cast their votes through an online ballot. The ballot, now available in English and Spanish, is open from May 5 through June 6 and provides an opportunity to vote for projects in three categories – Community Building and Economic Opportunities, Health and Human Services, and Children, Youth, and Family Wellness. Residents who participate by casting their vote will also be eligible to win a $100 VISA gift card or gift cards to support local, minority-owned restaurants in Durham.
Please do not miss this opportunity to help support underserved communities in Durham. Voting ends June 6 so please go to pbdurham.org/vote to vote and only takes two minutes to cast your vote.