Ideas in Action
Ideas in Action is the City's new Participatory Budgeting initiative, where Bostonians can decide how to spend a part of the City’s budget.
Latest Update
VOTING RESULTS - PB CYCLE ONE
The Office of Participatory Budgeting (OPB) is excited to announce the results of Ideas in Action’s voting phase! Thousands of Boston residents participated by sharing their ideas and voting on how to spend $2 million of the City's money in community-driven projects.
Quick highlights:
- In the summer of 2024, Boston residents submitted over 1200 project ideas. The Office offered multiple channels for residents to participate, including partnering with community organizations to host nineteen (19) idea collection workshops across the City.
- In the Fall of 2024, OPB hosted three Visioning Forums, where about 100 residents worked with City Departments to review, assess, and draft project proposals for the PB Ballot.
- Between January 15 and February 15 of 2025, a total of 4,462 Boston residents cast their ballot, selecting their top proposals to be funded.
Thanks to everyone who made their voice heard and participated in this exciting pilot year!
WINNING PROJECTS
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Cycle One Winning Proposals
Funding
$400,000
Description
This proposal will offer grants to nonprofit organizations to bolster assistance programs for Boston residents facing food insecurity. The purpose of these grants is for residents to access fresh food (fruits and vegetables, dairy, eggs, meat, seafood).
Funding
$500,000
Description
This proposal aims to tackle rodent infestations in identified hotspots by improving waste management practices and reducing food access for rats. By investing in rodent-proof waste storage solutions in high-density residential areas, food sources for rodents can be limited where they are most problematic.
The City will use sensor technology to monitor the effectiveness of these upgrades and expand successful solutions. This initiative supports the newly launched Boston Rodent Action Plan, which aims to reduce the rodent population and improve residents' quality of life.
Funding
$250,000
Description
This proposal will offer grants to nonprofit organizations to support youth ages 14-21 who are formerly or currently incarcerated, helping them build a brighter future.
The Boston Office of Returning Citizens will offer one-time grants opportunities to organizations that can provide access to mentorship, skills training and education, health and wellness programs, and other types of support services that can expose and prepare impacted youth to diverse opportunities. Programs may include home economics, grant writing, college prep, entrepreneurship, trade learning, etc.
Funding
$200,000
Description
This proposal will fund a pilot rental assistance program for Boston residents between the ages of 16-24 to stabilize their housing situation. Eligible residents will be able to access up to $5,000 in assistance to help cover late rent payments or move-in costs, such as first/last month’s rent, security deposit, and/or a broker’s fee.
The fund will operate under the Office of Housing Stability, using the infrastructure and guidelines of the existing Tenant Stabilization Fund.
NOTE: Minors under 18 years old must be legally emancipated to apply for assistance.
Funding
$500,000
Description
This proposal will offer grants to nonprofit organizations to build community gardens on underutilized land for public access and use, prioritizing areas where people have limited access to affordable, nutritious food.
This project will create a healthier environment, beautify the community, address food insecurity, and build camaraderie among residents. Gardens must have a robust rodent management plan.
Funding
$150,000
Description
This proposal will allow the City's Transportation Department to install approximately 50 benches at high-ridership bus stops across the City.
The project will prioritize neighborhoods with the greatest need, including lower-income areas and environmental justice zones, while ensuring accessibility for those who may have difficulty standing, such as older adults and individuals with disabilities. Bench designs will be selected based on the context of each location to maximize comfort and usability.
Next Steps
Over the next few months, the office will be working with lead departments to support the implementation of these projects. OPB will provide regular updates on the progress of each project via our website and newsletters.
Additionally, we would like to share a summary of proposals that did not receive the highest votes. Below is the list, along with the number of votes each project received and their ranking. The office recognizes the value residents placed in each proposal, and we’ll be sharing these ideas with the appropriate City Departments to consider for future initiatives.
|
RANK |
VOTES |
PROJECT NAME |
LEAD DEPARTMENT |
FUNDING |
|
#7 |
1415 |
Expand Evening Recreational Opportunities for Youth |
Youth Sports Grants, Human Services |
$300,000 |
|
#8 |
1411 |
Support and Education Programming for at Risk Youth Ages 10-13 |
Youth Development Fund |
$300,000 |
|
#9 |
1294 |
Economic Opportunities for Low-Income Entrepreneurs |
Office of Small Business |
$500,000 |
|
#10 |
1292 |
Pilot an Expansion of the Youth Jobs Program during the School Year |
Office of Youth Employment and Opportunity |
$515,000 |
|
#11 |
1193 |
Enhance Access to Essential Items for Boston’s Senior Populations |
Age Strong |
$500,000 |
|
#12 |
1172 |
Publicly Accessible Fruit Trees for Boston Residents |
GrowBoston |
$500,000 |
|
#13 |
841 |
City-Wide Campaign to Promote PAATHS Addiction Support Services |
BPHC’s Recovery Services Bureau |
$300,000 |
|
#14 |
782 |
Connecting Boston Residents to Health Resources |
BPHC’s Mayor’s Health Line |
$250,000 |
For more information, email pb@boston.gov.
VOTING FOR PB CYCLE ONE HAS now ENDED
The Office of Participatory Budgeting would like to thank every Boston resident who participated in the City's inaugural PB Cycle. While in-person votes collected at City Hall still need to be counted, 4,449 residents submitted their votes online!
Winning projects will be announced during the Office's External Oversight Board virtual meeting on February 25, 2025, at 6 p.m.
Projects with the most votes will be funded up to $2 million! Selected projects are a one-time, non-recurring investment, and will be implemented starting iin the spring of 2025.
For more information, please email pb@boston.gov.
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Cycle One Idea Submissions
From July 1, 2024 to August 15, 2024, the Office of Participatory Budgeting asked Boston residents how they would spend $2 million to benefit their communities.
This dashboard allows you to explore the ideas submitted as part of Cycle One of the Participatory Budgeting process. You can navigate the dashboard by selecting one of the nine (9) Community Priorities or explore all the ideas in one page.
About Ideas In Action
Ideas in Action is an opportunity for Bostonians to unite in open dialogue about budget priorities, engage in identifying community-initiated project ideas, and take collective action to help decide what projects get implemented for the benefit of the City.
Through collaboration with City Departments, partnerships with community organizations, and with guidance from our External Oversight Board (EOB), the Office of Participatory Budgeting (OPB) plans to host yearly Participatory Budgeting cycles in order to:
- Offer opportunities for the public to propose community-centered project ideas to address local priorities and vote on those they would like to see funded with the Office’s budget, and
- Gauge and identify resident priorities to help inform future City and departmental budget investments.
For this first pilot year, OPB and its Board have created a “Participatory Budgeting Rulebook” to provide a comprehensive framework and standard set of rules and operations for this new initiative in Boston.
Have question or need assistance? Contact:
Timeline
|
Dates |
Phase |
|---|---|
| Dates |
July 1 - August 15, 2024 |
| Phase |
Submit your ideas by:
|
| Dates | October - November, 2024 Visioning Forums and Online Engagement |
| Phase | Help determine which ideas will make it to the final ballot by attending Visioning Forums in October and November 2024. |
| Dates | January, 2025 Public Voting Period |
| Phase | Vote on your top 5 ideas to be funded in January 2025! |
| Dates |
February, 2025 and onward |
| Phase | Track progress of PB funded projects on the website and through the annual report. |
Past Updates
Past UpdatesIDEA COLLECTION UPDATE
From July 1 to August 15, 2024, Ideas in Action received over 1,200 project ideas from Boston residents! Over the summer, the Office of Participatory Budgeting collaborated with the City’s Data Analytics team to review the 1,200+ resident ideas. Ideas were organized into nine (9) Community Priorities based on similar themes to enhance and facilitate their review. Original resident ideas will be retained through the proposal development process. Please visit the PB Portal to review all project ideas submitted. See the mid-cycle evaluation findings here!
Here is the breakdown of where ideas came from:
PROJECT ELIGIBILITY
Who can submit project ideas?
All City of Boston residents can submit an idea regardless of age!
What type of projects can you propose?
- Projects are limited to a one-time expense and do not create new permanent positions
- Project Proposals may include programs and services as well as physical infrastructure
- Infrastructure projects on private, state, or federal property are not eligible, such as projects concerning the Department of Conservation and Recreation, or the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority.
- Project ideas related to programs and services in non-City owned facilities are eligible
- Project ideas must be feasible to implement, and be consistent with existing City policies, laws, regulations, and the Participatory Budgeting Ordinance
- Projects must be implemented or managed by the appropriate City Department or agency receiving direct budgeting appropriations
What are some examples of ideas?
Ideas may include programs and services, as well as physical infrastructure, technological improvements, and community enhancements.
Eligible Idea Examples:
- Programming to strengthen mental health among Boston Youth
- Expand the City's Wicked Free WiFi network to reach more low-income areas
- Digital literacy classes for senior citizens to learn new skills and promote social connections
- Enhance public spaces through infrastructure projects (public art, street trees, benches, ect.)
Ineligible Idea Examples
- Paying for the salary of a public employee to provide services
- Repairing a privately owned building
- Helping an organization renovate a space that it rents from a private landlord
- Helping a religious institution repair its sanctuary
- Increase the frequency of MBTA buses or trains
VISIONING FORUMS
In partnership with local community organizations, the Office of Participatory Budgeting will host three (3) in-person Visioning Forums, where residents will have the opportunity to engage with each other and relevant City Departments to review, discuss, and assess the feasibility and impact of all ideas under each of these Community Priorities.
The objective for each Visioning Forum is for residents to identify and draft five (5) project proposals, for a total 15 projects for PB Voting in January 2025. For those who cannot attend but want to provide feedback, an online meeting will be hosted in early November for public comment.
VISIONING FORUMS UPDATE
The Office of Participatory Budgeting (OPB) invites Boston residents to a virtual public meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 7, at 6:00 p.m.
During this meeting, the Office and its External Oversight Board will present and discuss the 15 draft proposals that emerged from a series of Visioning Forums hosted in partnership with community organizations in East Boston, Dorchester, and Roxbury throughout the month of October 2024. Residents will have the opportunity to share your thoughts about the 15 draft proposals. There will also be an option to provide written comments online from Friday, November 8, to Friday, November 15.
After the public comment period, the Office of Participatory Budgeting will work with relevant City Departments to ensure the feasibility of each proposal and determine approximate costs before PB Voting in January 2025.
Virtual Public Meeting Details
6:00 p.m. | Thursday, November 7, 2024
Join the Zoom
Visioning Forum #1:
- Date and Time: October 18, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Location: 31 Liverpool St, East Boston, MA 02128
- Hosts: Maverick Landing Community Services and Neighbors United for a Better East Boston (NUBE)
- Community Priorities:
- Expanding Economic Opportunities
- Housing Support and Resources
- Community Health and Wellbeing
- Register Here
Visioning Forum #2:
- Date and Time: October 24, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Location: 31 Heath St, Boston, MA 02130
- Host: Union Capital Boston
- Community Priorities:
- Transportation Safety and Access Initiatives
- Urban Greening and Environmental Initiatives
- Public Space Enhancements and Maintenance
- Register Here (AT CAPACITY)
Visioning Forum #3:
- Date and Time: October 30, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Location: 21 Balfour St, Dorchester, MA 02125
- Host: Center for Teen Empowerment
- Community Priorities:
- Youth Development and Opportunity
- Inclusive Community Spaces and Cultural Enrichment Programs
- Community Resources and Social Equity Programs
- Register Here
NOTE: Because of limited space, and to allow others to participate, please register for one Visioning Forum only.
PB External Oversight Board Public Virtual Meeting:
- Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Topic: Presenting the 15 draft proposals for PB Voting in January
- Public comment available during meeting and one (1) week via email
- Zoom Link
