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Rochester Recognized as Finalist in Global Mayors Challenge
Rochester’s proposal focuses on the economic mobility of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) women through careers in all-phases of construction. In Rochester, where 40% of Black residents live in poverty, COVID-19 exacerbated an exodus of BIPOC women from the workforce which threatens to deepen generational disparities. Construction is a key pathway to economic recovery and sustainable job growth, as Rochester’s $6 billion Destination Medical Center (DMC) economic development initiative is expected to generate new construction jobs over 20 years. Mayor Kim Norton shares, “We are very pleased to move forward in this process. Cities that will survive and thrive in the 21st Century are those that recognize economic disparity among minority populations and take an active role in eliminating policies and programs that promote such disparity. Rochester is that city! This economic development focused project reflects our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We are deeply aware of the impacts COVID-19 has had on specific members of our community, particularly BIPOC women, and this work would help address the expanded disparities that exist due to the pandemic. Our partnership with community organizations and residents continues to be especially vital to our focus on improving the lives for all community members.” The 50 Champion Cities submitted ideas addressing four of the most significant challenges borne of the pandemic: Economic Recovery & Inclusive Growth; Health & Wellbeing; Climate & Environment; and Good Governance & Equality. A prestigious selection committee co-chaired by Bloomberg Philanthropies board member Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO & President, Ariel Investments, and David Miliband, President & CEO, International Rescue Committee, assessed the applications to determine the Champion City finalists.
T he City of Rochester, MN is one of 50 Champion Cities selected today as finalists in the 2021 Global Mayors Challenge, a global innovation competition that identifies and accelerates the most ambitious ideas developed by cities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These 50 urban innovations rose to the top of a competitive pool of more than 630 applications from 99 countries, in the first-ever Global Mayors Challenge. As a Mayors Challenge finalist, Rochester now advances to the four-month Champion Phase of the competition. From June through October, the 50 finalist cities will refine their ideas with technical assistance from Bloomberg Philanthropies and its network of leading innovation experts. Fifteen of the 50 cities will ultimately win the grand prize, with each receiving $1 million and robust multi-year technical assistance to implement and scale their ideas. Grand Prize Winners will be announced in early 2022. “These 50 finalists are showing the world that in the face of the pandemic’s enormous challenges, cities are rising to meet them with bold, innovative, and ambitious ideas,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies and 108th mayor of New York City. “By helping these cities test their ideas over the coming months, we will have a chance to identify cutting-edge policies and programs that can allow cities to rebuild in ways that make them stronger and healthier, and more equal and more just.”
Advantage Magazine | 23
July 2021
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