Many of America’s urban cities are struggling. These older core cities, a.k.a., rust belt, weak market, slow growth, or undercapitalized cities, are struggling as a result of a changing economy, the movement of people and resources out of urban centers to other parts of the region or country, and far fewer supports from the federal government.
A new PolicyLink report, Shared Prosperity, Stronger Regions: An Agenda for Rebuilding America’s Older Core Cities, demonstrates that, despite significant challenges, older core cities can become economically competitive places where all residents can participate and prosper. Shared Prosperity, Stronger Regions looks closely at five cities: Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, and examines how innovative economic development, land use, transportation, neighborhood revitalization, and housing policies are bringing about significant economic and social revitalization.
While most people identify with their neighborhoods, the report demonstrates how the issues that most affect their daily lives—access to jobs, transportation, affordable housing, and the presence of stores, services, and recreational spaces—are regional in nature and defy traditional political boundaries.
Yet, all too often, regional development fails to take into account low-income residents, people of color, and working families. Shared Prosperity, Stronger Regions explores new solutions to inequitable regional development patterns and shows how a focus on regional equity creates opportunity and builds strong, healthy communities where all residents can participate and prosper. Case studies throughout the report demonstrate how cities across the country are working to make this happen.
Click on the link below to read the Executive Summary.
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Executive Summary (20 Pages - 2mb)