ICMA's pilot Economic Mobility and Opportunity Cohort brought together teams from fifteen diverse local governments in 2024. The local governments were selected through a process that gauged readiness to implement EMO-centered strategies through policies, practices, processes, and programs. Read more about the teams and their local activities supported through this program.

Charlottesville, VA

Charlottesville aims to assess its government and non-profit systems to identify service gaps and enhance support for community members seeking financial stability and equity. By incorporating human-centered design theory and input from peer cities, the city seeks to determine missing elements such as programs, funding, or coordination, leveraging expert assessment to advance initiatives promoting economic mobility and opportunity.

Danville, VA

Danville plans to utilize $20,000 to develop a framework for the newly funded Community Wealth Building Manager position, focusing on promoting economic mobility in high-poverty census tracts, particularly Census Tract 10, where a casino is under construction. The city seeks consultants to conduct a community needs assessment and create a plan aligned with the position's goals, aiming to have a comprehensive report ready for implementation by the end of December 2024.

Denton, TX

The City of Denton plans to conduct a poverty prevention assessment to identify vulnerable populations, prioritize funding, and develop initiatives for increasing financial stability and building wealth among residents. Utilizing grant funding and existing partnerships with local organizations, this assessment will analyze income data, identify needs by area, and provide recommendations to foster economic opportunity and affordability, aligning with existing city plans and supporting residents' long-term prosperity.

Eau Claire, WI

Eau Claire plans to finalize the formation of a regional collaborative to achieve goals outlined in their EDI strategic plan and Maternal Child Health project work, aiming to ensure every child grows into a capable adult. Funding will be used to formalize agreements, structure, and establish a shared dataset, emphasizing collective efforts to address social isolation and organizational silos for sustained progress.

Gaithersburg, MD

The City of Gaithersburg aims to develop a pilot program to support Spanish-speaking newcomers in achieving financial stability and mobility by addressing their unique challenges with financial systems in the U.S. This program, starting with a cohort of parents from a local elementary school, will provide regular financial education sessions, individual consultations, and ongoing counseling, utilizing the expertise of immigrant trainers and the Financial Empowerment Center team.

La Marque, TX

The City of La Marque aims to enhance educational and economic opportunities by collaborating with local schools to adapt curricula, organizing vocational training workshops, and providing career counseling services. Additionally, they plan to conduct financial literacy workshops, promote entrepreneurship, and offer services like credit repair and affordable childcare to empower residents and dismantle systemic barriers, fostering a thriving community for all.

Lisbon, ME

The Town of Lisbon seeks to implement "Together We Build: An Action Plan for the Creation of Fair, Shared, and Community-centered Ownership Models." This initiative will develop a comprehensive roadmap to explore and promote alternative ownership models for housing, commercial properties, and businesses, involving tasks such as assessing current conditions, researching ownership models, engaging the community, identifying potential properties, analyzing funding options, and developing actionable implementation steps.

Miami Gardens, FL

The City of Miami Gardens aims to redevelop its 463 vacant and underutilized properties to address the need for affordable and market-rate housing through public-private partnerships and federal assistance. Initial steps include conducting a vacant land survey and a rental market study to identify available properties and assess housing needs, followed by inviting development proposals from qualified firms.

Needles, CA

The City of Needles aims to develop a Housing Market Demand Assessment and Feasibility Analysis Program to scale up affordable or mixed-income housing on public and private lands, targeting at least 87 new units by 2029 to meet regional housing needs. This program will assess market demand and streamline the permitting process to accelerate infill development, supporting the city's economic growth and housing supply for its residents.

Newton, KS

Conexion Latino aims to empower the Latino community in Newton by identifying barriers to economic opportunity and developing solutions for better life outcomes. Initial funding will support a community needs assessment to align their mission with community needs, ensuring they address economic mobility effectively and meet residents where they are in their journey.

Prescott Valley, AZ

Prescott Valley aims to utilize awarded grant funding by prioritizing an economic mobility assessment and emphasizing strategic groundwork, involving cross-departmental collaboration and community engagement. The town will focus on the feasibility and timeline for expanding workforce development and housing initiatives, embedding them into the policy framework, and ensuring continuous evaluation and adaptation to maintain the effectiveness and relevance of these initiatives.

Redwood City, CA

Redwood City/North Fair Oaks aims to develop a multi-year Economic Mobility Action Plan (EMAP) informed by a recent landscape analysis and ongoing community engagement efforts. This summer, the city will conduct employer engagement events to gather input and brainstorm strategies to support youth workforce development and economic mobility, with the EMAP set to be completed by the end of the year.

Thomasville, NC

The City of Thomasville plans to establish an enclosed trailer equipped with tools for residents to borrow, enhancing community engagement and economic mobility. This initiative aims to improve community development and beautification, promote skill development through workshops, foster social cohesion and volunteerism, and empower economically disadvantaged residents by removing cost barriers to home improvement, while also promoting sustainability through resource sharing.

Tunica County, MS

Tunica County plans to use the funds to engage stakeholders in dialogue and create a resource portal to address economic mobility and improve residents' quality of life, focusing on housing and workforce development through community forums and consultations. Additionally, the funds will support establishing a foundation for sustainable economic growth, removing barriers to success, and building capacity, culminating in a Strategic Plan aimed at maximizing the county's assets, reducing poverty, and fostering economic opportunities.

Washington County, OR

Washington County plans to engage a consultant for an Economic Opportunity Assessment Project, aligning with ongoing strategic planning efforts and the "One Washington County" reorganization process. Through collaboration with county departments and external partners, the project aims to identify contributions to fostering opportunity and recommending practices for effective and equitable service delivery, promoting economic mobility for all community members.