The What Works Cities Certification program was launched in 2017 by Bloomberg Philanthropies and led by Results for America. It is self-described as the “first-of-its-kind standard of excellence for data-informed, well-managed local government.”

On February 26, the program announced 21 new cities to receive this honor bringing the total to 104 cities in North, Central and South America. 

“At a time when people are questioning the role of government, and what good government looks like, governments must be better at using data to know what is and isn’t working — and that is what the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification stands for,” said Rochelle Haynes, Managing Director of the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities. (See Haynes guest column for Greenebarrett.com last October.)

Eight cities in the United States were included at the silver level (which means they achieved 51–67% of the 43 criteria set forth by the program).

These new certified cities include the following, along with some of what they’ve accomplished as data and data governance has improved: 

• Burlington, Vermont, which evaluated housing data to update zoning laws to increase housing supply, leading to 44 new multifamily units permitted under the new code within eight months.

• Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which analyzed flood risk data to improve stormwater infrastructure in 25 neighborhoods

• Fort Worth, Texas, which used real-time data to bolster water management, leading to a 90% reduction in field investigations and more than $1 million in cost savings since 2019.

• Newark, New Jersey, which established a coalition of over 50 cross-sector partners to share and strengthen public safety and infrastructure data, which led to a 25% decrease in homicides in 2024 compared to 2023.

• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, which compared data from other cities and organizations to develop a blood transfusion program that provided 100 trauma patients with life-saving medical care before reaching a hospital.

• Raleigh, North Carolina, which assessed tree distribution citywide to plant 700 new trees in areas with the most need.

• Reno, Nevada, which launched an internal data tracking platform for wastewater maintenance that reduced sewage overflows by 44% between 2017 and 2023.

• Savannah, Georgia, which upgraded 25 parks and recreation centers based on data focused on conditions and needs, leading to a 40% increase in pool attendance and a 37% increase in youth participation from 2023 to 2024.

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