City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: NOVEMBER 20, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: GREG USEEM, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE ANALYTICS
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Grant Application to Bloomberg Philanthropies for the Global Mayors Challenge
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ISSUE: Should the City seek grant funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies to support solving a difficult and complex challenge for City residents, specifically, how we transform and reimagine the experience to connect residents to the right service.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Authorize the submission of a grant application for up to $1,000,000 to Bloomberg Philanthropies; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to apply for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Mayors Challenge and enter into any necessary agreements with Bloomberg Philanthropies to accept this funding.
BACKGROUND: The Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Mayors Challenge is a competitive grant for cities with populations of 100,000 or more. The grant was announced October 16, 2024 and the application deadline is December 20, 2024. City proposals to address a core service are selected based upon the understanding of the problem, the commitment of executive leadership, and the innovative nature of the proposed solution. 50 finalists will receive piloting funds and expert coaching to improve their ideas. 25 cities will be selected for the $1 million grant, dedicated project staff, and dedicated coaching support. No financial match from the City is required.
DISCUSSION: Alexandria is highly committed to data-driven problem solving, as recently reflected by the City’s What Works Cities Silver Certification from Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Mayors Challenge is another opportunity for the City to apply data-driven strategies to solve an important problem facing the community. Based on discussions with leadership and with a wide range of departments, the City is focused on addressing how we transform and reimagine the experience to connect residents to the right service.
FISCAL IMPACT: The grant requires no matching funds from the City.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
STAFF:
Greg Useem, Director, Office of Performance Analytics
Josh Ferguson, Performance Analyst, Office of Performance Analytics
Katherine Key, Performance Analyst, Office of Performance Analytics
Robert Stackhouse, Performance Analyst, Office of Performance Analytics