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New Haven Is One Of Eight

City gets grant through National League of Cities partnership

One of CCM’s most important non-municipal relations is with the National League of Cities (NLC). Throughout the pandemic, they stuck by our members in championing our fight for additional ARPA funds. They have been essential partners in programs like CCM CARES and CARES in Action. So we were happy to find out that one of our very own members had been chosen to participate in their Advancing Economic Mobility Rapid Grant program.

In a press release sent to CCM by NLC we were informed that “through a competitive application process,” New Haven, Connecticut is one of just eight cities that will participate in the grant program which disperses more than $100,000 “to support local initiatives designed to improve the economic mobility of their residents.”

The release continues: Funds awarded to the cities will be used to launch or expand solutions in one of three key areas: creating quality employment opportunities for residents, providing equitable support to strengthen or start small businesses, or helping residents connect with services or public benefits.

“We know that the economic vitality of a city is directly linked to the economic stability of the people who live there,” NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony said. “Through this program, NLC is thrilled to work with this group of eight incredible communities to advance economic mobility for all of their residents.”

The other municipalities include Dallas, Texas; Gaithersburg, Maryland; Honolulu, Hawaii; Nashua, New Hampshire; Redmond, Washington; Redwood City, California; and South Bend, Indiana; and include projects on include increasing outreach and engagement activities to ensure more residents connect with Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and financial services, as well as expanding small business support offerings so small businesses have access to online markets, training, and commercial space that help them grow.

Each of the eight selected cities will receive grants of up to $15,000, along with coaching from NLC and peer learning opportunities via NLC’s Economic Mobility Peer Network, to accelerate each municipality’s efforts to test innovative solutions that advance residents’ economic mobility. NLC will showcase the new or expanded initiatives grantee municipalities will implement at an Economic Mobility Convening before NLC’s City Sum- mit conference in Atlanta, Georgia, this November.

“Much like municipalities are members of CCM, we are members of NLC,” CCM Executive Director and CEO Joe DeLong said, “And just as each of you finds value in our organization, we find value in theirs through their various programs, educational opportunities and support. It is excellent to hear that one of our members in New Haven has successfully won grant funding against tough competition, I’m sure.”

The Advancing Economic Mobility Rapid Grant program and Economic Mobility Peer Network are made possible with the continued support of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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