Bengal News West Reporters
A coalition of Buffalo organizations is awaiting word on receiving a $3 million grant from The Open Society Foundations for urban development.
PUSH Buffalo,
Partnership for the Public Good, Voice Buffalo and Coalition for Justice
combined to create Open Buffalo, which applied for the grant in April.
Open Buffalo’s plan includes
improving the city’s worker equity and workforce development, increasing
education and training for youth and increasing opportunities for local
businesses.
The Open Society Foundations’ goal
is to build vibrant communities and promote open participation while holding
government accountable, according to its website.
Organizations in 16 cities applied
and Buffalo was one of eight cities that advanced to the semi-finals. Each semi-finalists
received $100, 000 for planning.
The planning process, which ended in
September, consisted of the cities putting together a proposal of ideas and
potential changes that will help improve their community. The cities that show
that they are most capable of efficiently using the money will receive the
grant, said Rahwa Ghirmatzion, PUSH Buffalo’s development director.
The foundation has until December to
decide which cities will be awarded the implementation money. They will receive
$1 million yearly for a minimum of three years.
