This week, Accelerator for America, a group that focuses on economic development, infrastructure and other issues in cities, along with Drexel University’s Nowak Metro Finance Lab, released a data analysis tool that gives city leaders and others a way to get a clearer understanding of how these disparities in business ownership look.
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The Covid-19 crisis is America’s greatest economic shock since the Great Depression. It’s landing hardest on small businesses, the heart of local economies and community life. This social upheaval from the pandemic has also sharpened our focus. Over the past several months, the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University has partnered with Accelerator for America and The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth to develop the Small Business Equity Toolkit.
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Today, Accelerator for America and Drexel University’s Nowak Metro Finance Lab released the Small Business Equity Toolkit, which offers mayors and economic development leaders in the nation’s top 100 metropolitan areas unique insights and innovative strategies for growing Black-, Hispanic-, Asian- and Women-owned businesses. The toolkit offers a data-driven, evidence-based approach to help cities close the long-standing racial, ethnic, and gender wealth gaps that have been exacerbated during the pandemic.
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Mayor Greg Fischer: The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) provides Louisville with the opportunity to not only eliminate the COVID-19 virus and recover from the pandemic, but to make historic progress toward becoming a city of equity and opportunity for all.
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Cities and their inner suburbs need an immediate lifeline from Washington to stabilize their finances after the devastation of the pandemic. But once those communities regain their balance, they could become crucial allies for Biden. By working with big metros, the president would be aligning federal policy with powerful economic, social, and electoral trends—and empowering local officials overwhelmingly sympathetic to his core objectives.
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Although details on how it will be spent remain sparse, the St. Louis region will see as much as $700 million in federal pandemic aid as part of the American Rescue Plan championed by President Joe Biden.
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The federal government’s American Rescue Plan will provide Louisville Metro Government with an estimated $434.5 million to support the city’s efforts to fight COVID-19 and hasten a robust and equitable economic recovery, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced Thursday.
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The New Partnership for Infrastructure, a group that grew out of the think tank Accelerator for America, released the revised infrastructure playbook Monday as federal lawmakers are expected to begin crafting an infrastructure bill after the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill is approved later this week.
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Accelerator for America Action, WSP USA, Mastercard City Possible, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, The ACEC (American Council of Engineering Companies) Research Institute, Meridiam NA, and HNTB — collectively, the “New Partnership on Infrastructure” — yesterday released an updated version of “America’s New Playbook for Infrastructure.” While other approaches to infrastructure policy draw from past best practices, this effort was uniquely created during the pandemic and with a focus on recovery.
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For 12 years, Benjamin has seen a city go from economic uncertainty and lack of development, to one with a revitalized Main Street, a new development known as BullStreet Commons, a track record of excellent financial reporting, and a major investment in fixing the water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure improvements.
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Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley’s eighth and final State of the City address this week called on the community to “redouble” its COVID-19 safety efforts and emphasized new and ongoing work to reform police policies, prevent evictions, combat inequality and bring new investment to Black neighborhoods.
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Yesterday's inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris ushered in a new era in Washington and promised a sharper focus on what we fight for every day — equitable relief from the pandemic, the rebuilding of our infrastructure and middle class, and the creation of community wealth for Americans across our country. Accelerator for America congratulates our new Administration and looks forward to working together to make our nation more just and prosperous for all.
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Smart Cities Dive identified 20 stories detailing the prevalent and groundbreaking trends that influenced a year like no other.
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Smart city technology has proven powerful at helping cities around the world battle Covid-19, as our annual review shows, and it will continue to be required throughout 2021.
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Some Salt Lake City residents most impacted by COVID-19 are receiving ‘Salt Laker Cards’, courtesy of a community nonprofit-led fundraiser.
Raise Up Salt Lake City began distributing $500 cash cards – Salt Laker Cards – to community members on Dec. 7. The no-fee credit card will assist city residents and families who don’t qualify for or couldn’t access federal stimulus money due to their immigration status and personal situations and fall below 80% AMI.
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Around the country, voters have approved multibillion-dollar plans to build or expand transit systems. Mayor Vi Lyles wants to put a similar question on the ballot in Charlotte next year.
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Our message here is a simple one: Local economic stakeholders cannot afford to wait to proceed until the federal fog of uncertainty lifts. They must start organizing now.
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The 2020 virtual Michigan Investor Summit was hosted by the Michigan Municipal League (MML), Accelerator for America, and the Michigan Urban Core Mayors. Mayor Schor is a member of the Accelerator for American and Michigan Urban Core Mayors.
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In our unique role as a “do” tank, and not a traditional think tank, we look forward to partnering with and supporting the new Administration by developing, piloting, and sharing successful models to strengthen people's economic security and ensure the economic recovery brings everyone along.
This has been a long election and a long year. We are excited, however, for what's ahead, and look forward to continuing our partnership with you.
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