Funder gives Dayton sustainability work a significant boost

Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims Jr., has announced Dayton is one of 25 U.S. cities chosen by Bloomberg Philanthropies to join a threeyear initiative designed to dramatically expand the city’s efforts to build a low-carbon, resilient, and economically thriving community.

Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities (BASC) will assist local governments including Dayton’s in leveraging historic levels of federal funding to develop transformative local sustainability solutions.

By participating in the $200 million Bloomberg program, Dayton will receive a funded innovation team with up to three dedicated staff with expertise in data analysis, insight development, human-centered design, systems thinking, and project management to bolster the city’s capacity to drive progress on climate mitigation and promoting equitable outcomes.

BASC will provide deep support in confronting the overlapping crises of climate change and racial wealth inequity through solutions in the buildings and transportation sections. Partnerships with PolicyLink, Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University, and the Natural Resources Defense Council will support the effort.

“Dayton has already taken big steps to implement sustainability solutions, and our successes are serving as a foundation for more and deeply meaningful work,” Mayor Mims said. “We are very grateful to Bloomberg Philanthropies for recognizing our progress and supporting our work for effective and equitable climate action.”

Anticipated solutions implemented through the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities could include developing affordable energy-efficient housing, investing in electric vehicles and infrastructure, and expanding access to clean energy, among other activities.

With over $400 billion in federal funding available to local governments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, BASC aims to help cities access the historic funding for critical local projects, especially in disadvantaged communities historically overburdened by pollution.

In addition to Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, and Akron are Ohio cities selected by Bloomberg Philanthropies for the BASC initiative.

Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities is the newest Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative to support local climate action in the United States. Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people, by helping to create lasting change in the arts, education, the environment, innovations, and public health.

‘We are very grateful to Bloomberg Philanthropies for recognizing our progress and supporting our work for effective and equitable climate action.’

Jeffrey J. Mims Jr.

Dayton mayor

The City of Dayton has taken many practical steps to conserve energy and reduce environmental impact, including the addition of electric vehicles to its fleet. Bloomberg Philanthropies will now assist the City in dramatically expanding its sustainability work through technical and staffing assistance.