Fifteen municipalities and counties representing diverse populations, geographies, operating budgets, and other local conditions have been selected for ICMA’s 2025 Economic Mobility and Opportunity Peer Learning Cohort and Mini Grant Program. This program from ICMA, made possible with support from the Gates Foundation, equips local decision-makers with resources to identify and advance priorities that improve upward economic mobility for residents of their communities.   

The following local governments were selected through an application process that gauged understanding of local needs and readiness to implement EMO strategies through the cohort program and beyond:

• Alachua County, FL
• Buncombe County, NC
• Cumberland, MD
• Douglas County, KS
• Fennville, MI
• Geneva, NY
• Homestead, FL
• Kalamazoo, MI
• Laramie, WY
• Lewisville, TX
• Maplewood, MN
• Moreno Valley, CA
• Peoria, IL
• Sallisaw, OK
• Vermillion, SD

In addition to professional development and networking opportunities for their team leaders, the selected local governments will each receive a $20,000 grant to advance a local assessment, planning process, or program aimed at boosting upward mobility of residents. The 2025 cohort participants anticipate undertaking activities to address local challenges surrounding digital literacy, childcare access, transportation barriers, housing affordability, workforce development, financial security, and other needs of their vulnerable populations.

The first meeting of the 2025 EMO Cohort will occur in conjunction with the National Economic Mobility and Opportunity Conference in Baltimore, MD, where members will convene alongside other local and national leaders working to enable economic success for all people. Over the next several months, facilitated by ICMA staff, the cohort will receive additional coaching and access to subject matter experts and evidence-based tools and resources that can support their local activities.

Follow EMO at ICMA on LinkedIn for the latest updates on the 2025 cohort as well as additional opportunities for support from ICMA and our partners, including the newly launched Economic Mobility and Opportunity Special Assistant (EMO SA) Program.