This week, our #GOPCThread takes a closer look at the City of Akron, which was recently selected as a Champion City as part of the Global Mayor’s Challenge by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Not on Twitter, the thread is available online, as well as below.

Greater Ohio Policy Center Read on Twitter

On this week’s #GOPCThread, we’ll take a look at one of the two #Ohio cities selected as a champion city for the @BloombergCities #MayorsChallenge

Last month, legacy city @AkronOhioMayor was one of 50 Champion Cities selected from +630 cities in 99 countries. The #MayorsChallenge aims to highlight innovative urban solutions emerging in response to COVID-19 #GOPCThread

The #MayorsChallenge identified 50 leading urban innovations that were imagined or launched in the wake of the pandemic. These ideas have the potential for meaningful impact and the ability to spread to other cities #GOPCThread

The 50 Champion Cities submitted ideas addressing four of the most significant challenges borne of the pandemic: Economic Recovery & Inclusive Growth; Health & Wellbeing; Climate & Environment; and Good Governance& Equality #GOPCThread

Competing with cities like @BaltCityHall, @Bogota, @CityofPhoenixAZ, and @Riocityhall, #Akron was selected based on its proposed THRIVE (Targeted Help for Resilient Innovative Entrepreneurs) program #GOPCThread

#Akron is 30% Black, yet only 1 in 200 local traded-sector firms is Black-owned. Median household income for Black families is less than half of white households. THRIVE aims to help launch more Black-owned businesses to increase wealth in the Black community #GOPCThread

THRIVE would build a new, supportive ecosystem to connect Black entrepreneurs w/ Pathway Advisors, called TEPAs, who will guide entrepreneurs through a suite of financial support and expert resources #GOPCThread

Akron’s THRIVE program takes the “medical rounds” model from how we educate doctors and applies it to business training #GOPCThread

The City of #Akron will work in partnership with @Bounce_Hub, @AkronUL, and @Ohio_SBDC, among other like-minded partners who share the City's assessment of the problem and a determination to fix it #GOPCThread

Akron’s goal is simple and bold, according to @AkronOhioMayor Dan Horrigan: to create 200 new Black-Black-owned businesses in #Akron by 2030. The idea is impactful, collaborative, and scalable and will help the city create a more equitable future #GOPCThread

The 2021 #MayorsChallenge will now provide #Akron and the other champion cities with access to world-renowned experts in innovation and data to help improve upon their ideas through October #GOPCThread

In early 2022, 15 cities will be named grand-prize winners and receive $1 million each to begin the implementation of their breakthrough ideas #GOPCThread

Congratulations to @AkronOhioMayor on this designation as a #MayorsChallenge Champion City, and best of luck moving forward! #GOPCThread