Anaheim, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Findlay, OH; Montgomery, AL; Richmond, VA; Rochester, NY; and Santa Fe, NM Awarded Grants from the United States Conference of Mayors’ DollarWise Campaign

Washington, D.C.— The United States Conference of Mayors’ (USCM) DollarWise Economic Mobility Campaign awarded its 2024 DollarWise Innovation Grants during USCM’s 92nd Winter Meeting to mayors representing seven cities: Anaheim (CA) Mayor Ashleigh Aitken; Colorado Springs (CO) Mayor Yemi Mobolade; Findlay (OH) Mayor Christina Muryn; Montgomery (AL) Mayor Steven Reed; Richmond (VA) Mayor Levar Stoney; Rochester (NY) Mayor Malik Evans; and, Santa Fe (NM) Mayor Alan Webber.

Each city was awarded a $10,000 grant to launch or expand economic mobility efforts in their communities.

For the last 20 years, DollarWise has awarded grants to more than 100 cities nationwide to help disadvantaged communities improve their economic health and success. The DollarWise Innovation Grant Program identifies and supports substantive and impactful economic mobility initiatives that can be scaled and implemented in additional cities nationwide.

“The DollarWise Campaign is a special program that assists mayors as they develop new initiatives and build out existing programs to create economic mobility in their communities,” said U.S. Conference of Mayors President Reno (NV) Mayor Hillary Schieve. “American cities drive our economy, and they are all stronger when everyone in the community is empowered for success. A DollarWise Innovation Grant city is one that is taking care of its people and creating a more inclusive economy for the future.”

The DollarWise Innovation Grants are made possible through the generous support from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, DollarWise’s founding sponsor.

The following descriptions highlight each program and how the DollarWise grants will be used:

2024 Innovation Grant Award Recipients

  • Anaheim, CA Mayor Ashleigh Aitken will support the small business community of Little Arabia, the Cultural District that established a hub of Middle Eastern and North African cultures in Southern California. The grant will be used to support the Little Arabia Entrepreneurial Assistance Program (LEAP) which offers business educational courses in Arabic and English brick-and-mortar businesses. 
  • Colorado Springs, CO Mayor Yemi Mobolade will focus on navigation and resource support for justice-impacted homeless residents to mitigate future legal challenges and meet their immediate and most pressing needs.
  • Findlay, OH Mayor Christina Muryn will use the DollarWise Innovation Grant to leverage the Ohio Revised Code that enables individuals with convictions to petition for a Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE). The program aims to educate employers on CQE benefits, assist eligible individuals with paperwork, and provide training and job readiness assistance for employment in high-demand occupations.
  • Montgomery, AL Mayor Steven Reed will support a program that focuses on addressing transportation as a key barrier to economic advancement and job security. The program will utilize Montgomery’s M-Transit system to provide affordable rides to support participants in accessing educational opportunities, job interviews, and work.
  • Richmond, VA Mayor Levar Stoney will use the Innovation Grant to train Richmond residents as birth doulas to address unemployment, childcare barriers, and poor maternal outcomes for black and brown women. The program will provide hands-on training, entrepreneurship principles, and pre-employment skills. The initiative aims to uplift under-resourced communities affected by pandemic-related challenges.
  • Rochester, NY Mayor Malik Evans will use the Innovation Grant to introduce the “Health of Your Wealth” program, a pioneering initiative combining estate planning and home weatherization for Black and Brown homeowners in Rochester.
  • Santa Fe, NM Mayor Alan Webber plans to implement an incentive program to address challenges faced by home-based child care (HBCC) providers, particularly women of color. The program offers incentives, coaching, and business development support.

DollarWise is the official economic mobility campaign of The United States Conference of Mayors and its Council on Metro Economies and the New American City. DollarWise is dedicated to helping residents, particularly those in underserved communities, thrive economically. The program fosters and supports innovative city-wide efforts to remove barriers to economic mobility, create opportunity through education and skills development, and build intergenerational wealth. Since 2004, hundreds of cities have participated in DollarWise Campaign initiatives and programs. For more information on the DollarWise Campaign visit www.usmayors.org/dollarwise.