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1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CITY OF PALMDALE NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: John Mlynar PHONE: 661/267-5115 DATE: October 31, 2017 Palmdale Selected to Join National What Works Cities Initiative Five Cities Are Committed to Making Government More Effective Using Data and Evidence PALMDALE, October 31, 2017 - Today, City Manager James Purtee announced that Palmdale has been selected as one of five new cities to participate in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ national What Works Cities initiative – one of the largest-ever philanthropic efforts to enhance the use of data and evidence in the public sector. Palmdale will receive technical assistance from world-class experts to build our capacity to address local issues using data and evidence. Palmdale will improve open data practices in order to make municipal data more accessible and engage residents around government priorities and services, with initial work focusing on recreation and quality of life initiatives. Palmdale’s selection, along with that of Athens, GA; Chula Vista, CA; Gainesville, FL; and Colorado Springs, CO, was announced today by What Works Cities and Results for America, one of the initiative’s five partner organizations. “Moving the needle on city challenges requires knowing what to measure and how – then acting on what you find,” said Simone Brody, Executive Director of What Works Cities. “By teaching cities how to put data at the core of their decision-making, we’re equipping them with the tools to best solve local challenges and serve their communities.” With today’s new participating cities, What Works Cities is now partnering with 95 cities across the country that are home to more than 29 million people in 37 states and have annual ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 budgets exceeding $98 billion. The initiative will partner with 100 cities on a rolling basis through 2018. “We are thrilled to have been selected to be a What Works City,” said City Manager Purtee. “This partnership allows us an unparalleled opportunity to work with the most cutting- edge programs and cities to help us advance efforts to provide quality services for our community.” With support from a consortium of expert partners, What Works cities are identifying more effective ways to evaluate programs and improve performance; best use resources to serve their communities; and address a range of social challenges – from public safety to affordable housing. What Works Cities participants also join the initiative’s extensive learning network of local leaders and global experts actively sharing best practices for outcomes- focused government. Through this partnership, Palmdale will invest in its data management and open data practices to help increase the quality of life in the city, enable progress towards its recreation and culture goals, and connect with the community in the process. The consortium of expert organizations assembled by Bloomberg Philanthropies to deliver support to cities comprises the Behavioral Insights Team, the Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University, the Government Performance Lab at the Harvard Kennedy School, Results for America and the Sunlight Foundation. The five new cities join the following 90 cities partnering with What Works Cities: Albuquerque, NM; Anchorage, AK; Arlington, TX; Augusta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Baton Rouge, LA; Birmingham, AL; Boise, ID; Boulder, CO; Buffalo, NY; Bellevue, WA; Boston, MA; Cambridge, MA; Cape Coral, FL; Cary, NC; Charleston, SC; Chattanooga, TN; Charlotte, NC; Corona, CA; Denton, TX; Denver, CO; Des Moines, IA; Downey, CA; Durham, NC; Fargo, ND; Fayetteville, NC; Fort Collins, CO; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Fort Worth, TX; Gilbert, AZ; ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 Glendale, AZ; Greensboro, NC; Gresham, OR; Hartford, CT; Hayward, CA; Independence, MO; Indianapolis, IN; Jackson, MS; Kansas City, KS; Kansas City, MO; Knoxville, TN; Laredo, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Lewisville, TX; Lexington, KY; Lincoln, NE; Little Rock, AR; Louisville, KY; Madison, WI; Memphis, TN; Mesa, AZ; Miami, FL; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Modesto, CA; Naperville, IL; Nashville, TN; New Haven, CT; New Orleans, LA; Norfolk, VA; Oklahoma City, OK; Olathe, KS; Orlando, FL; Portland, OR; Providence, RI; Raleigh, NC; Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Riverside, CA; Salinas, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; San Francisco, CA; San Jose, CA; Seattle, WA; Scottsdale, AZ; Saint Paul, MN; Sioux Falls, SD; South Bend, IN; Syracuse, NY; Tacoma, WA; Tempe, AZ; Topeka, KS; Tulsa, OK; Tyler, TX; Victorville, CA; Virginia Beach, VA; Waco, TX; Washington, DC; West Palm Beach, FL; Wichita, KS; and Winston-Salem, NC. About Bloomberg Philanthropies: Bloomberg Philanthropies works in more than 120 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2016, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed over half a billion dollars. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org. About What Works Cities: What Work Cities, launched in April 2015, is one of the largest-ever philanthropic efforts to enhance cities’ use of data and evidence. Through the initiative’s expert partners, cities around the country are receiving support, guidance and resources to succeed. In 2016, What Works Cities was named by Forbes as “one of the ten most promising philanthropic bets” of ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 the year and by Engaging Local Government Leaders as the “most important company operating in the local government arena.” In March 2017, the initiative launched What Works Cities Certification, the first-ever national standard for data-driven governance. The report “What Works Cities: How Local Governments Are Changing Lives” summarizes cities’ accomplishments with the initiative. For more information, visit whatworkscities.org. Contact: City of Palmdale, Anne Ambrose, (661) 267-5107, [EMAIL REDACTED] What Works Cities, Sharman Stein, (914) 522-4102, [EMAIL REDACTED] What Works Cities, Kristin Taylor, (646) 854-5572, [EMAIL REDACTED] -30- Communications Department • 38300 Sierra Highway • Palmdale, CA 93550 www.CityofPalmdale.org