By: Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project Connie Boesen’s election as the first woman to lead Iowa’s Capitol city is both a historic milestone and a call to action. She views her role not just …
The Balancing Act: Mayor Michael Sutphin’s Vision for a Changing Blacksburg
By: Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project Blacksburg, Virginia, sits at a unique crossroads where a historic Appalachian town meets the fast growing influence of Virginia Tech. Guiding the community through this moment of change …
5 Considerations for Your City’s Data Center Strategy
By Chloe Sieman and Katya Spear, Mayors Innovation Project As municipalities across the country are courted by tech giants promising innovation and investment, a growing body of data suggests the long-term reality may not match …
Supporting Youth and Families with Public Summer Childcare and Afterschool Care
By Chloe Sieman, UW-Madison Senior, Major: International Studies and Public Policy Today, 4.2 million children nationwide lack access to child care, exacerbated in regions of low average property value and high rates of poverty, disparately …
Beyond the Classroom: How Cities Can Support Students’ Needs
By Kylah Kehoe, UW-Madison Freshman, Major: Economics and Political Science Across the board, costs continue to rise for college students. As young people living away from home for the first time, college students may be …
Member City Spotlight: Sterling, IL
By Quincy Midthun, Mayors Innovation Project April marks Fair Housing Month, a time to celebrate the landmark passing of the Fair Housing Act which aimed to eliminate discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of …
Community over Corporations: The importance of spending public dollars locally
By Quincy Midthun, Mayors Innovation Project A recent report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) found that municipalities have increased their spending with Amazon nearly fourfold since 2016. From standard office supplies like pens …
Beyond Recognition: Celebrating Women’s History Month with Action
By Chasity Wells-Armstrong Chasity Wells-Armstrong is the Founder of Catalyst Coaching & Transformation and Creator of the SCALE™ Framework for Public Sector Leadership, which she uses to support mayors and municipal teams with strategies and …
Strategies to Protect Local Elected Officials
By Quincy Midthun & Katya Spear, Mayors Innovation Project Violence and harassment against local public officials in the United States is on the rise. In 2024, the Bridging Divides Initiative saw a 14% increase in …
Resilience as Strategy: A Fiscal Playbook for Funding a Bold Future
By Katya Spear, Mayors Innovation Project In an era defined by a “collision of crises”—aging infrastructure, climate volatility, and the disappearance of federal safety nets—city leaders are facing a stark financial reality. The old playbook …