WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National League of Cities (NLC) has announced 16 cities that have been selected to join the Good Jobs, Great Cities Academy and an additional 17 cities that will join the Good Jobs, Great Cities Learning Network. A partnership between NLC and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), these programs will spur innovative and scalable city-supported solutions that upskill and reskill workers into quality, high-demand jobs in infrastructure, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing jobs made possible by investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
The Academy will provide its 16-member cohort with in-depth technical assistance to accelerate each city’s efforts to design, develop, and launch new workforce initiatives. These cities will receive direct coaching and support from NLC and DOL to address the structural issues many groups of workers face in accessing good jobs while also learning how to strengthen municipal policy and practice by intentionally building connections to supportive services for workers. City participation will culminate in the launch of new or expanded training programs that place workers in quality jobs in partnership with local workforce development boards, employers, education and training providers, and other community stakeholders.
The Learning Network will help its 17 participating cities learn from their peers and other national resource providers as they build a strong local ecosystem for workforce development. This will include participation in quarterly networking calls, and ready access to NLC and DOL tools and resources to accelerate their efforts to promote workforce success in key local industries.
Cities participating in the Good Jobs, Great Cities Academy:
- Birmingham, AL
- Chattanooga, TN
- Duluth, MN
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Frederick, MD
- Jamestown, NY
- Kokomo, IN
- Lansing, MI
- Missoula, MT
- Monroe, NC
- Newark, NJ
- San Antonio, TX
- Santa Fe, NM
- Saint Louis, MO
- Tacoma, WA
- Tempe, AZ
Cities participating in the Good Jobs, Great Cities Learning Network:
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Bridgeport, CT
- Dallas, TX
- Forest Hill, TX
- Greeley, CO
- Houston, TX
- Maywood, IL
- Memphis, TN
- New Orleans, LA
- Pearland, TX
- Portsmouth, VA
- Rancho Cordova, CA
- Richmond, VA
- Sacramento, CA
- Saint Petersburg, FL
- Stonecrest, GA
- Tampa, FL
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for these cities to take advantage of these unprecedented federal investments and catalyze them for long-term economic advancement,” said Clarence Anthony, NLC CEO and Executive Director. “A decade from now, I think these 33 communities will look back and recognize this as the moment the economic trajectory began to change for some of their most underserved populations.”
The Good Jobs, Great Cities Academy and Learning Network positions city leaders to act as convenors, advocates, and innovators, forging stronger collaboration amongst local governments, businesses, education and training providers, local Workforce Development Boards, labor unions, labor-management partnerships, faith-based organizations, philanthropy, and other community-based organizations.
“I especially want to thank the U.S. Department of Labor for its commitment to this initiative,” said NLC President and Mayor of Tacoma, WA, Victoria Woodards. “Good Jobs, Great Cities is truly a historic partnership that’s going to create transformative opportunities for the residents in each of the cities involved in the program.”
The Siemens Foundation is a key partner in NLC’s workforce development initiatives. Its support is imperative to the success of the Good Jobs, Great Cities programs and directly impacts the economic futures of residents in participating cities across the country.
“The Siemens Foundation is focused on workforce development and equity, which is why we are thrilled to support these initiatives led by the NLC and DOL,” said Barbara Humpton, President and CEO of Siemens USA and Chairman of the Board of the Siemens Foundation. “In this moment of action to build a more sustainable, resilient, equitable future, we all must work together to open doors for people of all backgrounds into highly skilled, high-paid jobs in infrastructure and industry.”
Example initiatives the cities will work on in the program include scaling Registered Apprenticeship programs, career and technical education programs, youth apprenticeship programs and other earn-and-learn models. Additionally, cities will prioritize incorporating access to critical supportive services, including childcare and mental health services in their initiatives.
If you have questions or want to speak to an NLC expert, please email Media@nlc.org .
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The National League of Cities (NLC) is the voice of America’s cities, towns and villages, representing more than 200 million people. NLC works to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy and drive innovative solutions. Stay connected with NLC on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.