Bloomberg Philanthropies have announced to mayors across the United States that they intend to invest more than $200 million over the next three years in the American Cities Initiative in order to empower cities to generate innovation and advance policy that moves the nation forward.
The announcement came during the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Annual Meeting in Miami, where Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg LP Founder Michael Bloomberg outlined his intention to help provide US cities with the necessary tools to innovate, solve problems, and work together to move the needle on the issues that matter to citizens and America’s future, which include development and infrastructure as well as other topics like the nation's rapid technological change, Washington D.C.’s deepening disengagement on urban issues and the climate crisis.
“We are in the middle of a political era defined by Washington impotence...cities have begun to play a vital role in determining our nation’s reputation as a global superpower,” Mr Bloomberg said.
“The American Cities Initiative will incentivise and support the innovative efforts of those cities paving the way for America’s future.”
Mr Bloomberg said as cities grow and major threats like crumbling infrastructure are ignored, the more dangerous those threats become.
Michael Bloomberg at the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
As the first investment as part of the American Cities Initiative, Mr Bloomberg invited mayors to participate in a new US edition of the Mayors’ Challenge, which will help hundreds of mayors develop, test, and implement innovative solutions to the emerging challenges they face. He also announced a new grant to the US Conference of Mayors today that will help position mayors and local governments at the forefront of the country’s most pressing debates.
The American Cities Initiative was designed to strengthen cities through arts and culture, education, environment, government innovation, and public health programs, focusing primarily on three core areas:
Promoting bold leadership and effective problem-solving in city halls;
Advancing critical policies and legislation in areas ranging from education to climate change to opioid abuse; and
Empowering citizens – including artists, volunteers, and entrepreneurs – to solve problems and strengthen social cohesion.
