Purpose Built Communities

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Problem

We know that the starting line isn’t the same for everyone. The bottom line is that place matters as to how well we live, and how well our children live. Poverty and place are inextricably connected – children who grow up in poverty have different outcomes than those who grow up in healthy neighborhoods. My community is a community of neighborhoods. Most of us are defined by the neighborhood we live in, and the sad truth is that too many of our neighborhoods are not healthy. Nearly half of Leon County families with children under the age of 5 are living in poverty, and these numbers are even higher in neighborhoods like South City, where 68.5 % of families live in poverty.

Solution

Purpose Built Communities has been working across the country to successfully impact family outcomes by transforming struggling neighborhoods like South City into healthy and vibrant neighborhoods. By focusing at the neighborhood level on mixed income housing, a cradle to college education pipeline, and community wellness, Purpose Built is creating pathways out of poverty. In cities across the country, crime rates are going down, and graduation rates and college acceptance rates are going up because of a strategic, intentional focus on place.

Pregnancy Fairness

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Problem

Pregnant employees, employees seeking to become pregnant, and those recovering from childbirth are forced to choose between their reproductive decisions and their livelihoods. Workers are subjected to conditions that can harm their opportunity for a healthy pregnancy or have to work a schedule that does not allow them to attend necessary appointments. Their employers are not providing the flexibility or workplace modifications needed to ensure that these workers can sustain a healthy pregnancy and remain productive at work. Additionally, partners of pregnant employees are often unable to provide the physical and emotional support to their partner due to lack of scheduling flexibility at their own jobs.

Solution

I authored a bill to expand protections against employment discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, & related medical conditions & events. Under this legislation, which passed unanimously in City Council & was signed into law by Mayor William Peduto, pregnant employees, those seeking to become pregnant, those recovering from childbirth, & their partners are provided recourse to file a claim against their employer with the City of Pittsburgh’s Commission on Human Relations (CHR) if they feel they’ve been discriminated against. I partnered with the CHR to release a Guidance Document to help both employers & employees understand their responsibility under the law and empower employers to prevent discrimination from ever happening.

LouTechWorks

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Problem

Today, Louisville has about 79 percent of the tech jobs it should have for a city of its size, and the economy of the future will require significantly more jobs in software development, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. LouTechWorks seeks to meet those demands by quintupling the city’s projected tech job growth over the next few years. The Brookings Institution recently identified 28 percent of Louisville’s jobs are at high risk of automation, and LouTechWorks plans to bring government, public and higher education, philanthropy, nonprofit and corporate leadership together to mitigate the automation risk. The focus on technology jobs is key, as they typically pay well, are fast growing, and are less susceptible to automation.

Solution

LouTechWorks aims to maximize the local technology talent pipeline and ensure people are digitally literate and trained to be competitive and obtain technology jobs, from kindergarten through career. We have already secured commitments from Jefferson County Public Schools, Jefferson County’s largest school district with 100,000 students, and 7 higher education institutions to add or enhance programs, expand enrollment, and bolster Esports programs and scholarships. We are also including corporate and non-profit partners, to create a seamless, cohesive tech ecosystem.

Staycationland: Co-working Spaces Revolutionize Tourism and Remote Employment

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Problem

Maine is a rural state with a massive influx of visitors in the summer months. As our world becomes more and more digitized, the ability to work from home is a real possibility for many individuals. This includes those who visit Maine to enjoy our natural beauty, as found at Acadia National Park, the national monument at Katahdin, our many lakes, beaches, and ski resorts. Coworking spaces provide Mainers with the opportunity to avoid long commutes to office spaces, visitors with the ability to extend vacations for a few more days, and entrepreneurs with inexpensive space to generate their next venture.

Solution

In our ever-evolving digital world, businesses exist in many shapes and forms. Collaborative workspaces provide opportunities for start-ups to grow without the expense of costly and perhaps unnecessary traditional office space. In addition, professionals in these spaces often share ideas, best practices and expenses. It is no secret that Maine faces challenges with retaining and attracting young people to live and work here. These spaces are sought after by young professionals and are increasingly the cornerstones for communities revitalizing vacant spaces in downtowns. The Coworking Development Fund provides critical funding for the creation of more spaces in communities across Maine.

Transparent and Community-Oriented Opp Zone Investments

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Problem

Opportunity Zones were created as part of the federal tax overhaul by the United States Congress at the end of 2017. The Opportunity Zone program is meant to encourage private investment in underserved communities across the United States by providing federal tax incentives for investors who invest in real estate projects, or operate businesses in these communities. While there is an incentive to invest through reductions, or complete forgiveness of taxes on reinvested capital gains, there are virtually no mechanisms to ensure responsible development written into the federal tax code.

Solution

SB 581 establishes the Opportunity Zone Enhancement Program, to be administered by the Department of Commerce. Qualifying businesses investing in projects located in an opportunity zone may qualify for enhanced incentives under the a number of existing MD tax credit.

Those enhanced incentives are broken down into Level 1 (2.5% increased incentive) and Level 2 (10% increased incentive).
Level 1 Enhancements – Opportunity Zone Funds would have to demonstrate transparency by disclosing key information like the amount and date of investment, address of the project, and progress on qualitative/quantitative benefits the project will provide to the community.
Level 2 Enhancements – Opportunity Zone Fund investment project sponsors must meet Lev

Quinton Lucas, Mayor (Kansas City, MO)

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InnovateKC

Under NewDEAL Leader Kansas City, MO Mayor Quinton Lucas’ administration, the city’s original Innovation Partnership Program has evolved and launched anew as InnovateKC, an entrepreneurship-in-residence program that pairs startups with city departments to develop new tech solutions. Embedding with different departments allows innovators to tackle a wide range of problems, and includes training for both sides to learn how to navigate partnerships and procurement processes. Read more to learn about how the program developed, inspired by San Francisco’s City Innovate and Startup in Residence programs.

Darrin Camilleri & Donna Lasinski, Representatives (Michigan)

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Unemployment Insurance Reforms

NewDEAL Leaders Michigan Representatives Darrin Camilleri and Donna Lasinski joined a colleague this week to unveil a 10-bill package of reforms to update the state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency. The bills seek to restore maximum benefit rates, which haven’t changed in two decades; extend eligibility periods back to a standard 26 weeks; adjust dependent amounts to reflect modern realities for families; and reimburse those falsely accused of unemployment fraud due to a computer error. Learn more about the bill package, which Rep. Lasinski says will help workers focus on finding new jobs instead of worrying about providing for their families.

Bill Ferguson, Senator Brooke Lierman, Delegate (Baltimore, MD)

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Extending Benefits for Opportunity Zones

NewDEAL Leaders Maryland Senator Bill Ferguson and Delegate Brooke Lierman helped lead a bicameral effort to pass legislation to boost the benefits available for opportunity zones and provide for administration of the Opportunity Zone Enhancement Program. The bill, which the Governor signed into law this week, extends benefits from the More Jobs for Marylanders program to businesses locating or expanding in opportunity zones, and establishes new tax credits, among other things. Read more about the new law.

Randall Woodfin, Mayor (Birmingham, AL)

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Birmingham Inclusive Growth Partnership

NewDEAL Leader Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin unveiled the Birmingham Inclusive Growth (BIG) Partnership this week, which will identify potential opportunity zone projects and ensure opportunity zones improve residents’ quality of life and produce returns for investors. Learn more about the BIG Partnership and the first project, a renovation of a vacant historic building into workforce housing.

Karen Freeman Wilson, Mayor (Gary, IN)

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Micro-Loans for Small Businesses

NewDEAL Leader Gary, IN Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson joined a local bank partner to announce a new micro-loan program this week. The program offers access to financing for small, minority-owned, and at-risk businesses, especially targeting businesses that may not qualify for traditional bank financing. Read more about the program, which is part of the mayor’s Microenterprise Initiative.

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