February 20, 2025
MONTGOMERY LEADERS JOIN THE BLOOMBERG CENTER FOR CITIES PROGRAM FOR LEADING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN CITIES – BRINGING HOME ACTIONABLE STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE SHARED PROSPERITY
Montgomery, AL – Montgomery’s city leaders are playing a key role in shaping the city’s economic future by participating in the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard’s Leading Economic Development in Cities program. Designed and delivered by the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative in collaboration with the Growth Lab at Harvard Kennedy School, this executive education program equips municipal officials responsible for economic development policies and programs with the tools, knowledge, and network needed to drive growth.
Housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, the program is delivered in collaboration with experts in urban government, policy, and economic growth. It brings together officials from cities across North America and Europe, providing them with cutting-edge strategies to foster sustainable development and expand opportunities for residents.
Joining officials from 11 other cities, official leaders in attendance from Montgomery include:
- Jerime Reid, City of Montgomery, Chief of Staff
- Frank Robinson, City of Montgomery, Director of Economic Development
- Stacia Robinson, Montgomery Chamber 2025 Board Chairman
- Sheron Rose, Montgomery Chamber Executive Vice President, Governmental Affairs
- Ron Simmons, Experience Montgomery Chief Destination Officer
Through the Bloomberg Center for Cities program, these leaders are gaining data-driven insights and strategies to bring back to Montgomery and promote progress through an intensive combination of in-person and online learning. Participants collaborate with diverse peers to share experiences and expertise, allowing them to also learn from others in diagnosing and overcoming similar challenges. In team working sessions, officials pinpoint the strategies to address city constraints and put in place forward-looking policies and projects that will support goals such as the growth of targeted industries, new workforce development, transportation and mobility improvements, and better housing and neighborhood amenities.
“We are thrilled that Montgomery officials are working with the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University to explore innovative approaches and strategies that can help further economic growth, foster inclusivity, and strengthen our community. We have long benefited from our participation in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, and alongside their experts and those from the Growth Lab at the Harvard Kennedy School, we look forward to putting to work the insights and ideas our officials will bring home to our city, emerging from this collaboration with leading experts and peer cities.” said Mayor Steven L. Reed, City of Montgomery.
Upon returning from this phase of the program, city leaders are collaborating with the mayor, their teams, and various departments to develop and implement tailored, actionable strategies that drive progress and innovation. These efforts will solidify Montgomery’s leadership in supporting residents, businesses, and key industries, with a strong focus on expanding tourism, strengthening its role as a logistics hub, and advancing tech innovation and cybersecurity. By leveraging insights gained from the program, city leaders aim to create sustainable economic opportunities, attract investment, and further establish Montgomery as a thriving center for growth and development.
ABOUT THE BLOOMBERG CENTER FOR CITIES AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Founded in 2021 with Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University serves a global community committed to improving public management, leadership, and governance. The Center’s cross-Harvard collaboration unites expertise focused on cities across disciplines and schools to produce research, train leaders, and develop resources for global use. The Center is designed to have practical impact on the future of cities, where more than half of the world’s people now live, by informing and inspiring local government leaders, scholars, students, and others who work to improve the lives of residents around the world. For more information, please visit cities.harvard.edu or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
ABOUT THE MONTGOMERY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
With a mission to drive economic prosperity and build a greater life for all in the capital region, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce is a full-spectrum economic development public/private partnership representing 1,600 businesses and organizations with over 90,000 employees throughout Central Alabama.
View Photos on Flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC2Vsk
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Media Contact:
Brittany Willis
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce
bwillis@montgomerychamber.com
(O) 334 261-1104
