Eight cities join US$42 million Bloomberg data initiative

Eight cities have been selected by Bloomberg Philanthropies to participate in the US$42 million initiative, What Works Cities, to enhance their data use in order to improve services, inform local decision making and engage citizens.

The eight cities include Seattle, Kansas City, Missouri; and New Orleans–all mid-sized US cities–and will receive on-the-ground support and peer-to-peer learning opportunities to make government more effective. Organisers say that since the launch of the initiative in April 2015, mayors from across the US have expressed their desire for technical assistance to address local challenges using data and evidence. Within the first six weeks, 112 US cities applied. One hundred cities will be admitted to the program on a rolling basis through 2017.

James Anderson, Head of Government Innovation Programs, Bloomberg Philanthropies, told Cities Today at the launch in April: “From our ongoing discussions with city leaders, we’ve learned that most cities want to do more and do better with data and evidence, but they often struggle to access the relevant tools, knowledge and expertise. America’s mid-sized cities that typically receive little support to help them enhance how they use data and evidence, are eager to learn from experts and from one another.” 

The initiative collaborates with participating municipalities to review their current use of data and evidence, helping them understand where they are utilising best practices and identify areas for growth. Through partners, What Works Cities then designs a customised approach to help mayors apply tools to address a variety of local issues including economic development, public health, job creation, and blight. The first cities plan to improve their use of data and evidence in the following ways:

Jackson, Mississippi will implement open data practices for the first time and launch a citywide, mayoral-led performance management program using data and evidence to track progress on key priorities and improve day-to-day operations.

Seattle, Washington will develop and adopt a formal open data policy to ensure the clarity and sustainability of its open data program; the city will also use data in key city contracts to help ensure vendors deliver promised results.

Mesa, Arizona will implement open data practices for the first time. The city will also define desired results and share progress towards key city functions with residents.

Throughout the three-year initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies will document how cities currently use data and evidence in decision making, and how the programme is supporting them to advance. Over time, the initiative will also launch a benchmark system which will collect standardised, comparable data so that cities can understand their performance relative to peers.

“There’s already a tremendous amount of forward motion in US cities to open up their data, use evidence to ensure services are continuously improving, and enhance government’s transparency and accountability to the public,” added Anderson. “This initiative was designed to put additional wind behind mayors’ backs and to define a new level of achievement for US city government.”