Overview
Many of the historic urban centers that define American industry, culture, and civic life are struggling. Older industrial cities once fueled our nation’s economy and created and sustained the middle class. Now, these cities struggle to reposition themselves in the face of a changing global economy, an outward movement of people and resources, and devastating ebb in state and federal government support.
These cities can be strong again. Positive, community-focused, policy change efforts are happening every day in cities such as Newark, Philadelphia, Youngstown, and Kalamazoo.
In the spirit of Lifting Up What Works, The PolicyLink Core Cities Initiative is a multi-year, multi-region effort focused on bringing greater attention, resources, and equitable policy change to America’s struggling cities.
Our action-based research below identifies many of the change-makers who are transforming struggling older industrial cities into vibrant, competitive, and inclusive communities.