Washington, D.C. – As the 93rd Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) came to a close, mayors emphasized the importance of a strong local-federal partnership to keep America’s cities thriving. During the meeting’s final sessions, mayors reaffirmed their commitment to being educators for federal officials on priority issues like housing and infrastructure because they are “closest to the people.”

“While housing is our top priority, we know that there is great work also being done on a variety of really important issues that directly impact our people,” said U.S. Conference of Mayors President Columbus (OH) Mayor Andrew Ginther to the mayors who gathered during the closing plenary session. “We will need the involvement of each and every one of you to implement our legislative action agenda as opportunities arise in the 119th Congress.”

The plenary included a panel on the work of the Local Infrastructure Hub—a national program galvanized by Bloomberg Philanthropies together with The U.S. Conference of Mayors,Ballmer Group, Emerson Collective, Ford Foundation, The Kresge FoundationWaverley Street FoundationNational League of CitiesResults for America, and Delivery Associates—that has helped thousands of municipal officials secure federal infrastructure funds for city projects that will improve their communities. The panel featured Syracuse (NY) Mayor Ben Walsh, Tempe (AZ) Mayor Corey Woods, Noblesville (IN) Mayor Chris Jensen, and Luke McGowan who leads federal initiatives for the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies.

“If you’ve got a good project and you think it will improve the lives and outcomes of people living in your community – even if you weren’t successful on round one or two – try again for rounds three, four and five because I guarantee you, that persistence will give you the funding that you need to change people’s lives,” said Mayor Woods.

Later on the main stage, mayors from each USCM standing committee shared updates on their legislative priorities for the incoming Congress and new administration.

“We need to be educators [to federal leaders] on our issues because we are closest to the people,” said Piscataway (NJ) Mayor Brian C. Wahler.

Edina (MN) Mayor Jim Hovland emphasized the connection between housing and other issues impacting the growth and success of cities: “When you think about the triangulation of the need for housing, alongside transportation and jobs…we need to make all of those systems function together as an economy.”

The U.S. Conference of Mayors will next meet in Tampa, Florida, in June for its 93rd Annual Meeting.