Action-Packed Summer!

We thought July would be summer-slow, but we could not have been more wrong. Things are heating up - in a good way! News on the biggest climate investment in history, new product development to empower communities to access federal grants, strategies to de-carbonize ports, and energetic action plans for strategic results in Miami -. the Cityfi team has been busy working to advance purpose-driven innovation and communities.

Cityfi is thrilled to support the White House and U.S. Census Bureau over twelve weeks in The Opportunity Project (TOP), a problem-solving collaborative that uses federal and local data to develop new user-centered digital products that empower communities. Our team is creating a user journey map to illuminate pain points and opportunities in the grant discovery and qualification process to ensure all communities can access critical funding. If you are in local government or a nonprofit managing federal funding, please reach out as we would love to interview you.

Major moves toward decarbonizing transportation continue. This week every state successfully submitted electric vehicle infrastructure deployment plans - a required first step to unlock NEVI Formula Program funding And this funding only adds to a pool of over $100B that can be applied to electrification. Additionally, the Cityfi team is engaged with various industry groups and partners to advance not only hardware, but also the critical information infrastructure needed to power the national network of EV charging across ALL modes of movement in urban, suburban, and rural settings. Specifically, it is exciting to participate in the movement to ready the data architecture needed to support scaling alternative fuels.

Supporting safe and equitable urban mobility strategies for all people is a cornerstone of our work. Cityfi Senior Associate and Brooklyn resident Sarah Saltz reflects on road traffic safety and this week’s expansion of New York City’s speed camera program.

As always, your commitments to creating more equitable, sustainable, and regenerative cities inspire us and make working with you a joy. We are eager to learn about your current ideas and initiatives and cannot wait to hear from you about how we can support!

Cityfi Selected to Join The Opportunity Project

As part of our practice to drive data and technology solutions for the public interest, Cityfi was selected to participate in the White House’s and U.S. Census Bureau’s The Opportunity Project (TOP) initiative “Helping Communities Access Infrastructure Grant Funding.” This particular project seeks to improve how the diverse set of federal agencies allocates grants to local and regional organizations for a huge array of federally-supported programs. Cityfi is focused on delivering deep insights and solutions for the grant discovery and qualification process for local and regional governments, especially as it relates to the massive disbursement tied to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Our team is working in collaboration with ten other private and civic sector teams and at the direction of TOP leadership, including Denice Ross, U.S. Chief Data Scientist; Oliver Wise, Chief Data Officer at the Department of Commerce; and Justin Cole, a Presidential Innovation Fellow leading TOP.

TOP is an initiative to leverage the expertise of companies, nonprofits, and universities to turn federal open data into solutions and provides a unique opportunity for collaboration with the Federal government. U.S. Chief Data Scientist Denice Ross says, "As a former data steward in both local and Federal government, opportunities to authentically collaborate with the public were few and far between. Usually, we just published the data and hoped it was useful. TOP provides a rare safe space for federal data stewards to interact with technologists, and for community stakeholders and subject matter experts to make sure that the final digital products hit the mark and do no harm."

Specifically, the Cityfi team is developing a user journey map focused on the grant discovery and vetting process. We know from our work with communities across the country that many cities and nonprofit organizations have limited capacity to monitor and assess the fit of potential funding opportunities. Our work is uncovering the critical pain points in the discovery process and highlighting opportunities to enhance discovery and qualification to ensure that all communities can access and navigate the system to search for essential funding. The funding created by the IIJA in combination with existing federal programs creates a tremendous opportunity to make generational investments in communities across the country. However, the first step in ensuring that these investments are equitable is making sure that communities are aware of potential funding opportunities and have the information to make informed decisions as to whether the funding is the right fit for their local goals. We are continuing to conduct research and interviews with local governments and nonprofit organizations that interact with any type of federal funding. If you are interested in being included in our interviews, please reach out as we would love to talk with you!

Miami-Dade’s DTPW Reenvisions Its Strategy and Action Agenda

Cityfi is working with Miami Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) on a departmental strategic plan, two-year action agenda and marketing plan, and digital data platform and tool that will allow the department to better leverage data to drive values and strategic, outcomes-based decisions. This collective work is intended to drive forward Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s THRIVE305 initiative, including her vision for transportation, as well as SHIFT305, an initiative of DTPW that focuses on providing the county with safe, clean, connected, and efficient transportation. During the week of July 25, Cityfi hosted a workshop with DTPW staff and two learning sessions for DTPW leadership to help develop the action agenda, which will provide the department with key, prioritized, and time-bound actions aligning to DTPW’s work and resources with mayoral and department goals. The workshop brought together nearly 40 DTPW managers to brainstorm the key actions that should be taken over the next two years to further county transportation, including those to improve internal functions of the organization as well as externally-facing programs and projects. Cityfi also briefed key DTPW leadership on the importance of transportation department action agendas and how their release and measurable progress toward actions will help DTPW to better serve its customers, build trust with the community, and further department resources toward meeting key transportation goals.

Cityfi Hosts Forum to Explore Port Modernization

Cityfi recently hosted a virtual forum, sponsored by Verizon, on data sharing and electrification in ports. Port and logistics thought leaders in the public and private sectors discussed opportunities, challenges, and pathways to solutions related to sharing data and electrifying port operations. Convening this diverse group of stakeholders generated valuable insights and, as Verizon Business partners with Virginia International Terminals on a 5G network, showcased the need for collaboration. While there are still many learnings to discover, we at Cityfi are optimistic about our collective ability to create a more modern, sustainable, and equitable supply chain and maritime industry.

New York City Expands Speed Camera Usage

This week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the state legislature gave New York City the ability to expand its speed camera program to 24/7 operation. Prior to the expansion, the cameras ran from 6am to 10pm on weekdays and were switched off during 31% of traffic-related deaths in camera zones. While the speed camera program’s impact is limited to 2,000 school zone cameras covering 1% of the city’s intersections, it is the first and largest program in the country. After several fiery state authorization disputes, the expansion is one of many necessary aggressive interventions to get the city’s Vision Zero progress back on track, which, along with the rest of the nation, is still suffering in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The expansion comes amid two quarters of spiking traffic fatalities, furthering concerns about the city’s failure to reach its Vision Zero goals. The New York City Department of Transportation reported that traffic violence and fatalities have been rising with speed cited as a major contributing factor. Across the city, an increasing number of victims are people using bikes, e-bikes, and scooters as well as younger New Yorkers aged 18 and under. Furthermore, advocacy group Transportation Alternatives reports that in 2022, Bronx residents were killed at disproportionately greater rates despite having the least bike infrastructure in the city. The data serves as an urgent reminder of the importance of both grassroots education and outreach programs that meet New Yorkers where they are as well as equity-driven, top-down infrastructure interventions and investment. It also confirms what any New Yorker who has taken a bike ride or walk empirically knows: the speed camera program expansion is just the beginning.

Michigan Law Sets Aside Roadways for Automated Vehicles

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a law giving the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) the power to designate some of the state’s roadways and driving lanes for the use of automated vehicles. The new policy also allows for collaboration between MDOT and automated vehicle system developers. The law received pushback from the motorcycle group ABATE of Michigan. They cited concerns over MDOT’s choice to invest in new and untried alterations to the state’s infrastructure while the existing system has been due for repair and modernization. Supporters of the policy look forward to the flexibility this new law provides in being able to collaborate and work closely with vehicle manufacturers and automated vehicle system developers; this could lead to a better understanding of what can be done from a roadway infrastructure perspective to help these technologies continue to flourish and operate. Collin Castle, the program manager for intelligent transportation systems at MDOT, said, “These are the kinds of steps that we’re taking to really understand the feasibility of designating a road in this manner.”

Apply for a SMART Grant in September

The Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) program provides grants to public sector agencies for demonstration projects with the goal of utilizing technology interventions to solve transportation problems and improve transportation efficiency and safety. The program is authorized to run for five years, and this is the first year of its implementation. SMART will support a range of approaches, including new transportation applications of existing and emerging technologies, expanded and systematized use of proven technologies, and deep integration of solutions with existing transportation systems. The technology issue areas on which projects should focus are coordinated automations, connected vehicles, sensors, systems integration, delivery and logistics, innovative aviation, smart grids, and traffic signals. The Notice of Funding Opportunity opens in September 2022. Cityfi advises and convenes clients across the public and private sectors on leveraging innovative technology to improve outcomes for cities and communities.

Congress Deliberating a Bill With Significant Climate and Energy Investment

A new bill being deliberated by Congress, the Inflation Reduction Act, would allot $369 billion to climate change and energy security measures. Tax credits would be offered for buying electric vehicles with batteries manufactured in North America and investing in clean energy projects leveraging geothermal and advanced nuclear technologies. Yesterday, Senate Democrats announced that a compromise had been reached that should garner sufficient party support to move the bill through the Senate.

Congress Passes the CHIPS and Science Act

A major step toward progress for U.S. technology innovation and supply chains occurred last week when Congress passed a long-awaited bill with bipartisan support aimed at boosting national semiconductor production. The bill, known as the CHIPS and Science Act, includes more than $52 billion for U.S. companies producing computer chips as well as billions of dollars more in tax credits to encourage investment in chip manufacturing. It also provides tens of billions of dollars to fund scientific research and spur the innovation and development of other national technologies.The legislation is aimed at addressing a semiconductor chip shortage and making the U.S. less reliant on other countries, such as China, for manufacturing.

USDA Invests $401 Million in Rural High-Speed Internet

Last Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $401 million investment in high-speed internet for rural areas through the ReConnect Program and the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee program. The infrastructure funding will extend access to 31,000 rural residents and businesses in 11 states, people on Tribal lands and socially vulnerable communities.

Walton Foundation Awards $412,000 to the University of Arkansas for Smart Mobility

The University of Arkansas (UA) just received a $412,000 planning grant for smart mobility from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. The eight-month funding bolsters UA’s and the state’s goal of being smart mobility epicenters and the university’s focus on next-generation vehicles, unmanned aerial mobility, and smart mobility artificial intelligence. Specifically, the grant will advance initiatives spanning pilot research studies, benchmarking, marketing, and development planning for education and the workforce.