From the IEDC Leadership Summit and the Milken Institute Future of Finance to the 2026 NACo Legislative Conference, Twin Talks NC, and a dynamic, infrastructure‑focused event hosted by United for Infrastructure and Florida International University in Miami, the AFA team has been elevating the innovative work happening in communities nationwide and connecting with leaders who are shaping the future of local economies and infrastructure. It’s been a busy stretch and an energizing reminder of the momentum for positive change in localities across the country.
Bentley Systems, American Society of Civil Engineers, AECOM, Duke University, and IBM recently released Built to Endure: A Smart Guide for Cities To Build Resilient Infrastructure That Lasts, a guide for small and mid-sized communities to plan and build resilient infrastructure with support for digital tools and data sources. As a leader in resilient infrastructure investment, AFA Advisory Council Co-Chair Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix penned the forward for the guide. Anchored by nine real-world case studies, Built to Endure “meets local decision-makers where they are, recognizing real capacity limitations, governance complexity, and the urgency of action,” Mayor Gallego wrote.
Work for America is accepting applications for its Spring 2026 Talent Accelerator workshop, Transforming City Hiring Processes. The free, 8-week sprint supports city HR and operations leaders to reduce time-to-hire, clarify workflows, and improve the candidate experience. Applications close on March 20. Learn more and apply here.
For mayors, data centers highlight the broader challenge of managing growth while meeting climate and sustainability goals. Climate Mayors has released Data Centers and the Climate Landscape: An Actionable Resource for Mayors, developed in partnership with Bloomberg Associates, to equip mayors with the information they need to shape data center development through local policy and strategies when authority is limited or shared with states, utilities, or regional bodies. Read more.
The Irvine Foundation, in partnership with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, has released a report highlighting lessons learned from their joint efforts to invest in and expand affordable housing in California. Advancing Housing Affordability in California is a funder playbook for entities considering starting or expanding grant programs related to affordable housing. The playbook includes impactful strategies, entry points for new funders, and gaps remaining in the market. Read more.
As pressure mounts at every level of government to address affordability and supply challenges, states are increasingly stepping into leadership roles to shape policy, deploy new tools, and lay the groundwork for systemic change. National Housing Crisis Task Force Senior Advisor Bruce Katz and Executive Director Colin Higgins found that nearly 75 percent of governors are prioritizing housing affordability in their state of the state addresses. While the strategies vary widely, the through line across them is that the Governors at the cutting edge see that durable solutions require a comprehensive approach. Read more in The New Localism.
AFA has released several reports in recent months highlighting the work of our team and the communities we support, providing examples of communities who are getting it right, and providing information on key topics impacting people nationwide. If you haven’t had a chance already, we encourage you to review these resources to see how they can help you increase economic mobility in your community.
AFA’s 2025 Annual Report
In 2025, AFA supported 145 communities nationwide, added hundreds of local leaders and practitioners to our network, welcomed nine new mayors to our Advisory Council, and adopted our first-ever, multiyear strategic plan.
Cities Leading the Artificial Intelligence Transition
Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a pivotal opportunity for local governments to fundamentally transform how they serve communities and strengthen local prosperity. When deployed strategically with appropriate guardrails, AI can enhance service delivery by increasing government efficiency and provide upskilling opportunities for both city staff and residents.
Shaping the Opportunity Zone map to drive housing production that best meets community need
The upcoming Opportunity Zone designations have the power to shape the next decade of private investment in America’s historically marginalized urban and rural neighborhoods, with over 30 million residents living in 24,000+ eligible census tracts and potentially tens of billions of dollars at stake. In order to take advantage, communities need to prepare now.
Lansing leading the way for better data centers
When local leaders prioritize community needs, negotiations with data center developers can produce promising outcomes. Lansing Mayor Andy Schor and the Lansing City Council are exemplifying that with their new partner, Deep Green, a UK-based sustainable data center developer.
Insights into Action: Translating economic mobility research into local change
Accelerator for America recently concluded a three-month Insights into Action cohort with partners at Opportunity Insights, and we found that impactful learning doesn’t always require a long-haul commitment; even a focused “learning sprint” can help communities accelerate progress toward their economic mobility goals.
