Three grants totaling 300 thousand dollars will be awarded from the Fund For Our Economic Future's "Efficient Gov Now" program, created to promote greater efficiency in government operations and city services.
To qualify for the cash, elected boards or councils must devise a specific program demonstrating an innovative new adaptation of governmental collaboration - one that could potentially be adopted by other cities, counties, or schools.
Judges from the Fund, which is supported by a coalition of area foundations, will choose finalists from among the applicants by May.
Those proposals will be presented to members of the public for a vote this summer on which actually deserve the money they could receive.
The Fund's Chris Thompson was in Thursday's meeting which introduced the concept to leadership groups.
He says there was a definite excitement about the proposition.
CHRIS THOMPSON: "Elected officials are looking for ways to collaborate with each other, to change the way services are delivered - to make them more efficient. They like the fact that someone's willing to put some money on the line; they are intrigued by the public having a say in the decision-making process."
Kent State University's Center for Public Administration will provide assistance to government leaders in developing their proposals. Other area schools will also participate.
