James Kirby

About James Kirby

James Kirby is a Senior Staff Member at the U.S. Conference of Mayors. James serves as the Associate Director for the Council on Metro Economies and the New American City, which focuses on economic research and helping cities develop models of economic investment. James leads the Mayors' Economic Mobility Initiative, which helps residents in underserved communities build intergenerational wealth. James also leads the Conference's Youth Involvement Task Force, which is dedicated to helping America's young people engage in civics and public service. James holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of California Merced, and a Master in Business Administration from Georgetown University.

What Mayors and Their Residents Need to Know About COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments

On March 27 the third federal stimulus bill, the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (HR 748), became law. The bill gives millions of Americans the opportunity to receive one-time economic impact payments to assist them during the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 30, the IRS and Treasury Department announced that payments would be

How the COVID-19 Federal Stimulus Bills Directly Affect Working Families

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been three stimulus bills passed through Congress that have become law to provide emergency assistance to impacted Americans. The first bill, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (HR 6074), became law on March 6 and included $8.3 billion in emergency funding. The second bill

Mayors Hold Conference Call to Discuss Opportunity Zone Funds

On Wednesday, February 26, mayors from across the country joined the Council on Metro Economies and the New American City to discuss Opportunity Zone Funds, and how cities can leverage Opportunity Zone Funds to develop new city projects. Speakers included William Lambe of Enterprise Community Investment Inc., Noelle St. Clair of Woodforest National Bank, and

Conference of Mayors Releases 2020 Economic Mobility Report

The United States Conference of Mayors is pleased to release its 2020 Economic Mobility Report. The report features aggregate data that focuses on the implementation and strength of economic mobility programming in our nation’s cities. The report is based on survey data collected from 53 cities across the country. The Conference thanks all of the mayors and

By |2020-04-14T09:06:26-04:00January 24, 2020|88th Winter Meeting (2020), DollarWise, Reports, Updates|

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer Announces First Opportunity Zone Investment

On November 5th, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced one of the city's first Opportunity Zone investments by the Marin Group. According to the city, the new project will expand Blacksmith Iron Works, a fabrication and custom metal solutions business that recently moved into a 20,000 square-foot facility at 3100 Vermont Ave. - in the Russell neighborhood.

U.S. Treasury/IRS Publish Proposed Regulations on Opportunity Zones

On October 29, 2018 The U.S. Treasury published its first set of proposed regulations governing  Opportunity Zone tax incentives. Comment deadline on the proposed rules is December 28, 2018, and a public hearing is scheduled for January 10, 2019. U.S. Conference of Mayors Comments Letter to the IRS on Opportunity Zones - Submitted December 20th,

Council on Metro Economies and the New American City Meets During 85th Annual Meeting

The Council on Metro Economies and the New American City convened at the 85th Annual Conference of Mayors in Miami Beach June 23 to hear from leading experts in the fields of economic development and inclusion. Council on Metro Economies and the New American City Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, chair of the Council,

DollarWise Awards The City of Lexington with a $10,000 Innovation Grant to Integrate Financial Education Into ESL Programming

On Thursday, May 25th, The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ DollarWise Campaign met with Mayor Jim Gray to award the City of Lexington a $10,000 2017 DollarWise Innovation Grant to support and expand financial education resources within the city's GLOBAL LEX program. Joining Mayor Gray was Lexington City Council Member Jennifer Scutchfield, Lexington City Council Member

USCM Awards D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser DollarWise Innovation Grant

On Thursday, May 4th The DollarWise Campaign and the Bank of America Foundation joined Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for her annual "InnoMAYtion" event at Carnegie Library. The event highlighted the city's Aspire to Entrepreneurship program, which helps returning residents learn critical skills to start their own businesses after incarceration. The DollarWise Campaign awarded Washington,

Community Development Daily: Dayton (OH) and Indianapolis (IN)

The Conference of Mayors' is sharing success stories daily on what Community Development Block Grants support in our nation’s cities. Dayton, OH Dayton’s Neighborhood Stabilization and Improvement Program received $2,845,103.86 in 2016 and has received $8,185,962.07 overall since 2014. The Neighborhood Stabilization and Improvement Program includes administrative assistance for housing rehabilitation and maintenance programs, emergency

By |2017-05-04T09:21:12-04:00May 4, 2017|CDBG, Community Development and Housing, Updates|

Community Development Daily: Montgomery (AL) and Winston-Salem (NC)

The Conference of Mayors' is sharing success stories daily on what Community Development Block Grants support in our nation’s cities. Montgomery, AL During Program Years 2012 - 2015, the City of Montgomery allocated approximately $4M to the Montgomery Housing Authority for infrastructure improvements at The Plaza, formerly known as Tulane Court.  The dilapidated public housing

By |2017-05-04T09:30:34-04:00May 3, 2017|CDBG, Community Development and Housing, Updates|

Community Development Daily: Buffalo (NY) and Knoxville (TN)

The Conference of Mayors' is sharing success stories daily on what Community Development Block Grants support in our nation’s cities. Buffalo, NY The City of Buffalo is committed to preserving the integrity of our unique architecture and culture.  One example of this is our Beverly Gray Business Incubator, located in a low-moderate income neighborhood on

By |2017-05-04T09:35:16-04:00May 2, 2017|CDBG, Community Development and Housing, Updates|

Community Development Daily: Dallas and East Orange

The Conference of Mayors’ is sharing success stories daily on what Community Development Block Grants support in our nation’s cities. Dallas, TX The Lone Star Gas Lofts Phase II (formerly identified as Atmos Lofts Phase II) project is the second and final phase of the Lone Star Gas Lofts Complex development - located in the

By |2017-05-01T15:11:14-04:00May 1, 2017|Community Development and Housing|

Community Development Daily: Beaverton (OR) and Mesa (AZ)

The Conference of Mayors' is sharing success stories daily on what Community Development Block Grants support in our nation’s cities. Beaverton, OR This year, Beaverton funded two organizations a total of $147,000.  A tremendous success story comes from our partner Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon, or MESO, and their work with Maria Roman (name used

By |2017-05-04T09:57:34-04:00May 1, 2017|CDBG, Community Development and Housing, Updates|

Community Development Daily: Spotlight on Attleboro (MA) and Fort Wayne (IN)

The Conference of Mayors' is sharing success stories daily on what Community Development Block Grants support in our nation’s cities. Attleboro (MA) Various social service agencies in Attleboro depend on block grant funds to sustain existing services. Over $300,000 has been appropriated to support agencies in the past 5 years servicing over 3,000 low-income Attleboro

Go to Top