LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, in partnership with Reimagine LA Coalition and Tres Lunas Consulting, today announced a $1.45 million investment to expand the 2nd District Community Budget, Supervisor Mitchell’s landmark participatory budgeting program that gives local residents a direct say in how public funds are invested in their communities. The expansion will allocate $600,000 to Willowbrook and $850,000 to Athens-Westmont.

“I am proud to be expanding our participatory budgeting program to reach more residents in our unincorporated communities. The success from our landmark pilot was a reflection of co-governance at its best and demonstrated what is possible when our residents have a direct say in how their public funds are spent. What became possible was more access to job readiness support and career opportunities, beautification projects, rental assistance to help residents stay housed, and so much more,” said Supervisor Mitchell. “I look forward to applying the lessons learned in this next phase of our Community Budget and continuing to work directly with local residents and our community-based organizations in making this possible.”

Following the successful launch of the 2nd District Community Budget in 2023 — the first-ever participatory budgeting program in Los Angeles County — where a total investment of $1.7 million was allocated to the unincorporated communities of Ladera Heights and Florence-Firestone to fund solutions and programs shaped by the residents who live there; this next phase of the Community Budget is expected to impact the 33,400 Willowbrook residents and 43,200 Athens-Westmont residents who will be encouraged to submit ideas and vote on ways to meet community needs and improve their neighborhoods.

Ways Local Residents & Community Organizations Can Get Involved:

A key component of the participatory budgeting process is the Advisory Committee, which is composed of local residents who help develop and weigh-in on recommendations for initiatives and improvements in their neighborhoods. Those recommendations will ultimately be put to a vote by their fellow residents.

Residents of Willowbrook and Athens-Westmont who are 16 years or older, including seniors, are strongly encouraged to apply to serve on the Advisory Committee. Residents of all identities, regardless of immigration status, gender or sexual identity, or race and ethnicity, are welcome to apply.

Apply at Mitchell.LACounty.gov/CommunityBudget. The application deadline is Friday, September 18, at 11:59 p.m.

Upcoming Information and Application Support Sessions

Residents and community partners interested in learning more about these opportunities are invited to attend upcoming information and application support sessions via Zoom.

Wednesday, September 2 at 6:00 p.m. Register: bit.ly/SD2-Sept-2

Wednesday, September 16 at 6:00 p.m. Register: bit.ly/SD2-Sept-16

These virtual sessions will provide an overview of the Community Budget, walk participants through the application process, and answer questions.

Become a Community Engagement Partner

Local community-based organizations are needed to be Community Engagement Partners. Organizations interested in receiving grant funding to support with community outreach efforts can sign up here to be notified when the Community Engagement Partner application is available.

For more information about the 2nd District Community Budget, visit Mitchell.LACounty.gov/CommunityBudget and follow Supervisor Mitchell on social media for updates at @HollyJMitchell on Instagram or @Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell on Facebook.

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