Press Releases

Columbus, OH – The Ohio Mayors Alliance (OMA) is launching a first-of-its-kind initiative bringing together Ohio cities to pursue data excellence through the What Works Cities Certification (WWC) program. The initial members of the Ohio Mayors Alliance Data Innovation Initiative include Cleveland (Mayor Justin Bibb), Dayton (Mayor Jeffrey Mims), Lima (Mayor Sharetta Smith), and Reynoldsburg (Mayor Joe Begeny). By building data capacity, local Ohio leaders are reinforcing their commitment to delivering outstanding programs and services to support their communities. 

“Supporting local innovation and best-practice sharing amongst our mayors and cities is foundational to the work of the Ohio Mayors Alliance,” said Ohio Mayors Alliance Executive Director Keary McCarthy. “By launching this Data Innovation Initiative and partnering with national experts, we can help our cities harness the power of data to deliver better, more efficient and effective services for their residents.” 

The What Works Cities Certification program, launched in 2017 by Bloomberg Philanthropies and led by Results for America, is the international standard of excellence in city governance. What Works Cities Certification recognizes and celebrates city governments for their exceptional use of data and evidence to inform policy decisions, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate the effectiveness of programs, and engage their residents. To date, 55 cities have achieved this distinction. 

Members of this Data Innovation Initiative will benefit from tailored support for developing their data practices, moderated peer gatherings, targeted coaching, and access to experts and resources. After an initial assessment to benchmark their current data capacity, the cities will work together with WWC staff to develop action plans to implement best practices for using data to address their most pressing challenges.

What Works Cities Certification reflects current and emerging best practices, and supports cities as they prioritize equity and community engagement. To achieve WWC Certification, cities must: 

• Show expertise in data management.
• Demonstrate that they are managing their data with equity as a priority. 
• Show that they are making progress in policy areas that directly affect resident well-being.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Ohio Mayors Alliance and support this unique regional network of cities committed to using data and evidence in policy making,” said What Works Cities Managing Director Rochelle Haynes. “Cities working together creates opportunities for local leaders to connect on issues facing their communities and develop solutions that will have a regional impact on residents’ lives. Our congratulations to the Ohio Mayors Alliance on taking a leading role in the growing movement of data-driven policy makers.”

The Ohio Mayors Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of mayors in Ohio’s 30 largest cities. The organization also recently announced a similar collaborative effort called the Public Safety 360 Initiative. For more information, please visit: OhioMayorsAlliance.org.

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