Obama Launches Strong Cities, Strong Communities Initiative In 6 Cities

'Strong Cities, Strong Communities', explained by Melody Barnes, assistant to the president for domestic policy and the director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, is primarily intended to increase economic growth in the six selected cities. “Strong Cities, Strong Communities is a new interagency pilot initiative that aims to strengthen neighborhoods, towns, cities and regions around the country by strengthening the capacity of local governments to develop and execute their economic vision and strategies."

Barnes explains that the "federal-local collaboration allows the federal government to support efforts from the ground up in four key ways", including the formation of a new "fellowship program (managed by the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development) that will place mid-career professionals in city agencies in the same six cities to work closely with the Community Solutions Teams..."

Thanks to Sarah Sharpe