Bloomberg Associates

Bloomberg Associates is the philanthropic consulting arm of Bloomberg Philanthropies. Founded in 2014, Bloomberg Associates works side by side with client cities to improve the quality of life for residents, taking a strategic, collaborative, and results-oriented approach to make cities stronger, safer, more equitable, and more efficient. This team of globally recognized experts and industry leaders has worked with cities across the globe on hundreds of projects in order to ignite change and transform cities’ visions into reality.

COVID-19 Response Spotlight:

Bloomberg Associates Creates Resources to Help Cities Respond

As the pandemic swept across the globe, cities struggled with the unprecedented damage it caused. In addition to their ongoing intensive client city consultation, Bloomberg Associates’ team created numerous resources, as part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies COVID-19 Local Response Initiative, to help mayors and their teams from all over the world with their response.

Highlights include:

Streets for Pandemic Response and Recovery, a joint initiative with the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) that offers first-of-its-kind guidance for converting streets into public polling sites and relocating classroom and other school activities to streets.
The COVID-19 Municipal Resource Guide, published in partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors, helps U.S. cities better understand how to access and track federal funding available to them.
The development of guides to equip local economic development leaders with best practices and tools to support workers, small businesses, and cultural organizations facing significant financial challenges.
A webinar series, Cities Addressing Homelessness, and resources for cities to help better care for unhoused communities.
The COVID-19 Communications Module, including a crisis communications and digital engagement guide.

Cities around the world have seen a dramatic increase in cycling during the pandemic. Former client city Paris is one such city growing its cycling infrastructure. Credit: Kiran Ridley/Getty Images

Spotlight: Client Cities

Atlanta, Georgia

In Atlanta, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has made affordable housing, criminal justice reform, government transparency, and equitable infrastructure and services top priorities for her administration — priorities that COVID-19 made even more critical. Before and throughout the pandemic, the Bloomberg Associates team worked with the city to create strategic plans, road maps, and initiatives. Published in August 2020, the One Atlanta: Economic Mobility, Recovery, and Resiliency Plan establishes clear objectives and pathways to achieve better economic and social outcomes for Atlanta’s residents, primarily Black and brown communities with high rates of poverty and unemployment. The team also worked with the Department of Parks and Recreation to create a new master plan for parks, ActivateATL: Parks and Recreation for All. This plan ensures that all Atlantans will have equitable access to Atlanta’s green spaces and recreational activities, which have become especially important during COVID-19 as residents look for safe ways to engage in physical activities and socialize. Additionally, Bloomberg Associates supported the creation of the city’s first-ever Office of Transportation and Strategy and first-ever affordable housing plan. The team also was a part of the Atlanta City Detention Center Task Force, whose mission is to repurpose the detention center into a hub for social support services. Finally, as the city wrestled with COVID-19 policies and response, the Bloomberg Associates team was asked to lend their expertise and help Atlanta develop a multi-phased reopening plan with guidelines for business and individuals.

“Over the last two years, Bloomberg Associates has become an invaluable advisor and partner for the City of Atlanta, and their support and commitment grew deeper this past year when we needed them most. Working together, we have been able to deliver on our vision for One Atlanta and our core priorities, while responding to the unforeseen impacts of COVID-19.”
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Mayor
Atlanta, Georgia

London, United Kingdom

Bloomberg Associates has worked with London Mayor Sadiq Khan to advance his priorities around vulnerable populations, small business, and sustainability. Prior to COVID-19, Bloomberg Associates was working to address homelessness in the city and create a plan that would enhance services for those in need alongside colleagues at Bloomberg L.P. who supported the launch of the StreetLink London Advice Line to encourage self-referral for homeless individuals. This work continued through the pandemic with the team sharing best practices for immediate response while also providing the city with models for possible scenarios based on rising infection rates and other factors. As one of the sectors most affected by COVID-19, small businesses were also in need of support more than ever. Mayor Khan’s team and Bloomberg Associates worked together to provide London’s small businesses with access to an array of support, including one-on-one sessions with business advisors, city funding, and an online business portal. Other efforts in London include an energy reduction pilot for commercial buildings to help meet the city’s goal of reducing emissions, and continuing work with the London Office of Technology and Innovation to further collaboration and cohesion among London’s 33 boroughs.

Bloomberg Associates helped London support small businesses as they faced lockdowns and other COVID-19 restrictions.

Newark, New Jersey

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka asked the Bloomberg Associates team for help furthering his Newark Forward initiative. After announcing a broad vision in January 2020 to support the city’s arts and culture industry as part of this effort, Newark’s creative sector began experiencing the health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bloomberg Associates assisted the city to create its first arts grant program to help artists and institutions survive and thrive through the pandemic. The Creative Catalyst Fund promotes equitable financial support for Newark’s arts sector by providing grants to artists and small and mid-sized nonprofits working in any artistic discipline. As Newark continues to grow, Mayor Baraka is committed to sustainable and inclusive development. Along with the Department of Planning, Bloomberg Associates is creating a plan for a mixed-use development of a critical nine-acre area that is within one of the city’s Opportunity Zones. In addition, to help the city better respond to residents’ needs, Bloomberg Associates assisted in the creation of a program that assesses how requests to the city are handled and how they might be improved.

“This year has truly been a test of our humanity and our ability to address prevalent systemic challenges. I am thankful for Bloomberg Associates being there with us every step of the way to help accelerate our progress and to also help as we tackle the tests and trials of 2020.”
Ras Baraka
Mayor
Newark, New Jersey

Bloomberg Associates supported Newark in communicating important public health messages to its residents.

Top photo: Former client city Kansas City, Missouri, participated in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative, which is helping to engage communities and make streets safer through the creative use of paint on road surfaces.