Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell Announces $1.7 Million in Funding for Winning Proposals in LA County’s First Community Participatory Budget Program

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, in partnership with the Reimagine LA Coalition, Participatory Budgeting Project, and Tres Lunas Consulting, announced the winning proposals in the 2nd District Community Budget, focused on the Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights communities. This initiative marks the first-ever participatory budgeting process in Los Angeles County, allowing residents from both areas to decide how a total of $1.7 million in funds will be allocated to help improve their communities.

“Our unincorporated communities rely on the county for essential municipal services that directly impact their quality of life. That’s why it was important to pilot our community budget program in these areas. The diverse lived experiences and needs across Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights have shaped every step of this pilot, with direct input from residents in both communities,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District. “I’m excited to see this landmark community budget program move into the implementation stage and watch these ideas turn into tangible results for our residents.”

Over 700 ideas were submitted by constituents in Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights. An advisory committee, composed of 11 residents from both communities, helped select the top eight ideas to be voted on. The Office of Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell allocated $1 million—$500,000 each for Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights. The Reimagine LA Coalition contributed an additional $420,000 to Florence-Firestone and $280,000 to Ladera Heights, based on population size, enabling more projects to be funded.

The final funding allocation resulted in three approved projects for Florence-Firestone and four for Ladera Heights.

Florence-Firestone Winning Proposals:

Nourishing Our Neighborhood: A Green Space Initiative ($250,000): A community initiative to plant more trees and install planters to enhance community health and quality of life through collaboration with residents and nonprofits.

Florence-Firestone is Home ($500,000): A program that will offer cash grants of $500 to support 200-600 residents facing rent increases and financial burdens, with options to renew up to three times.

Connection to Ready to Hire Jobs ($150,000): Connect residents to ready-to-hire jobs with family-sustaining wages through candidate pre-screening, soft skills training, and a potential local job fair. The program will be inclusive of all backgrounds and career stages, with a strong outreach plan for employers.

Ladera Heights Winning Proposals:

Tree & Common Area Improvement Project ($150,000 – $200,000): Beautify common spaces with community signs, climate-specific trees, and landscaping. Support underdeveloped areas by providing drought-tolerant plants, lighting, and outdoor art, requiring a strong community engagement plan.

Active Minds, Healthy Lives Initiative ($100,000-$150,000): Enhance programming at the Yvonne B. Burke Senior and Community Center by promoting digital literacy and physical activity. Digital classes will help seniors connect with family and access online resources.

Digital Literacy Empowerment ($175,000): Establish technology classes at a local community center for all ages. Includes expert-led sessions, certificates, and job placement assistance. The selected organization must ensure access for those in need and provide consistent programming for at least 12 months.

Youth Digital Workforce Development ($200,000-$300,000): Fund nonprofits for a year-long job training initiative, similar to LA County’s Youth at Work program, providing youth aged 14-24 with work experience, training, and support for paid jobs in high-growth industries.

The next phase of the 2nd District Community Budget is now underway. Community Implementation Partners are needed to help turn these community-driven projects into a reality. Organizations interested in implementing these initiatives are encouraged to apply here: https://mitchell.lacounty.gov/cb-2023/#CIPApp. The application deadline is Monday, March 10.

A virtual info session for organizations interested in becoming Community Implementation Partners will be held on Wednesday, February 19, at noon via Zoom. This session will guide organizations through the application process and address any questions. Organizations can register here: https://bit.ly/SD2-CIP-Info.

“I am incredibly excited to see the power of participatory budgeting come to life in the 2nd District. With Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell’s leadership and the Reimagine LA Coalition’s investment, we are making a historic commitment to community-driven decision-making. The Reimagine LA Coalition is proud to contribute an additional $700,000 to this effort, bringing the total to $1.7 million for the Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights communities. This investment ensures that residents have a real say in shaping the resources and solutions that impact their daily lives. This is a major step toward equity, transparency, and true civic engagement,” said Megan Castillo, Reimagine LA Coalition.

“After years of advocating for participatory budgeting at the state and local level, Supervisor Holly Mitchell and her team, the Reimagine LA team, and the communities of Ladera Heights and Florence Firestone finally made this an implemented reality. It is a restorative gift to have $1.7 million equitably redistributed across these two communities of color,” said Diana Zúñiga of Tres Lunas Consulting & RELA. “Everyone involved should be so proud and excited to see how these seven projects bloom in the two neighborhoods.”

For more information on the 2^nd District Community Budget and the winning proposals, visit http://mitchell.lacounty.gov/cb-2023.