Detroit has been named a member of the
Bloomberg Philanthropies Innovation Team program, making the city eligible for up to three years of $500,000 grants. The money is to be used to fund an in-house Innovation Team, which will focus on improving city life through the development of new and novel solutions to issues faced by city residents.
The organization says that the Innovation Team will take a measurable approach, one with clear plans and goals. By funding an in-house group that could stay for as long as three years, the team will be better able to understand the complexities local to Detroit. Bloomberg Philanthropies will also provide implementation support and facilitate an exchange of ideas between the different Innovation Team sites.
Detroit was selected from a pool of cities from all over the world and joins a group that includes Be'er Sheva, Israel; Toronto, Canada; Anchorage, Alaska; Austin, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; and Durham, North Carolina. Eligible cities must have at least 100,000 residents and a mayor with at least two years left in office.
"I am happy to welcome the Bloomberg Innovation Team into our city to help create new ideas to better the lives of Detroiters across our city," said Mayor Mike Duggan.
Bloomberg Philanthropies is billionaire businessman and former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg's umbrella organization for his charitable activities, which includes personal gifts and his foundation. The organization has five focus areas: Public health, environment, education, government innovation, and the arts.
Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.