TIGER Funds Smart Growth
The U.S. Department of Transportation allotted nearly $500 million from the TIGER 2012 Discretionary Grants program to 47 transportation projects in 34 states and the District of Columbia. According to an analysis by Better! Cities and Towns, 15 of the projects, totaling $161 million, will support smart growth in the form of complete streets, transit-oriented development, urban bike-ped projects, street networks, and a streetcar system. Rail, including both freight and passenger services, earned $297 million, or 59 percent, of the funding. This paradigmatic shift away from the majority of funding being allocated to highway and road projects represents the growing support for mixed-transit development and smart growth in the federal government.
Valuing Degree Attainment
Lee Fisher, President and CEO of CEOs for Cities, and Noël Harmon, National Director of the Talent Dividend for CEOs for Cities, wrote a blog in Huffington Post this week that touts the benefits of higher education. The blog highlights the increase in earnings potential, employment, and standard of living for those that complete a college degree. Dropping out is not a viable option; "our focus must be on the hard work of and staunch commitment to ensuring postsecondary access and attainment for all" in order to foster success in a competitive global economy.
Metrics and Technology Revolutionize Higher Ed
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation plays a prominent role in shaping higher education. In an interview with the Chronicle of Higher Education, Bill Gates discusses his vision for transforming higher education through technology. The Gates Foundation is targeting late graduators and college dropouts by revolutionizing the ways that teaching is delivered. Bill Gates mentions the importance of gathering information on "completion rates [and] the quality of the employees that get generated by the learning experience" rather than just entry SAT score. By understanding these metrics, we can alter teaching mechanisms, including online learning, to fit the needs of an ever-changing student body.
GOOD Ideas for Cities: New Orleans
On July 12th, GOOD Ideas for Cities, a collaboration between GOOD and CEOs for Cities that asks creative problem solvers to tackle urban challenges and present their solutions to a live audience including city leaders, will be New Orleans. The New Orleans event will be the last event in a series of six brainstorming sessions, all funded by ArtPlace, to be held in mid-sized cities throughout the country. You can RSVP for the free event, which will be held at the New Orleans Museum of Art, here. The challenges include improving biking, increasing access to healthy food, beautification of street corners, and advancing food truck reform.
Partner Interview: Kim Scheeler
Check out CEOs for Cities' partner interview of Kim Scheeler, President and CEO of the Greater Richmond Chamber, to read about what makes Richmond great.
CEOs for Cities
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