By Jennifer Calloway
July 16, 2007

This year at the 75th Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors Meeting, DuPont continued its commitment to making cities healthier and safer, by awarding $250,000 to three cities as part of the national Lead'safe…for Kids’ Sake grant competition. 

Close to 50 cities nationwide submitted proposals detailing how each would take concrete steps to reduce lead hazards in the home and make their city a better place for children and families. Lead'safe…for Kids’ Sake is one piece of a larger partnership between The U.S. Conference of Mayors and DuPont called Cities United for Science Progress (CUSP).  Since the partnership’s inception in 2002, DuPont has contributed over $4 million to provide cities with the resources they need. 

The selection committee looked for cities with the most innovative, actionable Lead-Safety strategies that would serve as an example for other communities and create results in real-time.  In the end three cities proved to be a cut above the rest: Awards for Excellence were given to Washington, D.C. and Wilmington (DE) in the amount of $100,000 and an Award for Distinction was to given to Milwaukee for $50,000. 

As a cornerstone of his first term in office, Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty has identified the eradication of childhood lead poisoning as a top priority.  In addition to numerous steps taken within the mayor’s first 100 days in office, the city requested funding to streamline its program Lead'safe Washington.  This program was in need of better reporting, targeting services, and technical assistance.  The city hopes to increase its abatements with the use of these funds. 

Wilmington Mayor Jim Baker and his public health team had a very specific request in mind; to supplement efforts to complete a total of 75 lead abatement services in at-risk zip codes.  Wilmington had already been awarded a grant from the State of Delaware but needed extra funds to finish the job already in progress.  By leveraging existing monies, Wilmington put together a comprehensive plan to decrease lead hazards and increase access to affordable Lead'safe housing within the city. 

Lastly, Mayor Tom Barrett and his team in Milwaukee (WI) put together a proposal designed to engage multiple stakeholders with the ultimate goal of rendering the city Lead'safe by 2010.  Milwaukee’s 12-month project entitled Lead Smart for a Good Start combines the efforts of early educational programs, local non-profits and private property owners to assist the city’s lowest income families.  This multi-dimensional approach exhibits the spirit of Public-private partnerships and it attacks the problem from various angles.   The city’s primary focus will be window replacement.  Milwaukee has been and continues to be a national leader in implementing window replacement programs.  With the DuPont grant, the city will leverage additional private property owners funds that will enable Mayor Barrett to reach additional neighborhoods that have yet to be served.

During the ceremony, Mary Kate Campbell, DuPont Public Affairs Manager stated, “The winners have proposed exceptional efforts to address the issue of lead safe practices through programs, public policy, education or joint efforts with local stakeholders. It was clear that all applicants are strongly committed to creating Lead'safe communities.”

Each year the winning cites serve as prime examples for the hundreds of other Mayors in attendance, and give an intimate look at a variety of best practices that can be duplicated, for the betterment of other communities.  Conference of Mayors Executive Director Tom Cochran concluded the awards presentation by reiterating how Lead'safe…for Kids’ Sake is another great illustration of how, “Public-private partnerships, such as CUSP, are critical to making our cities the strong vibrant places they can be.”