The State of the American City
The National League of Cities issues their annual report. What can we learn about our nation's cities and are their implications for our own hometown?
Last week, The National League of Cities (NLC) published their 2024 State of the Cities report. This annual report helps provides a comprehensive overview of the priorities and challenges faced by municipal governments across the United States. Such reports are important as they help determine the direction of these places, where most people in this country actually live. Today’s newsletter is devoted to this report and will focus on the key findings of the report and discuss the possible implications for our own communities
What America’s Mayors Are Worried About
The report identifies what America’s mayors believe are top issues facing their communities. Those issues that came to the top of the list include economic development, infrastructure, housing, public safety, and public health as the top priorities for mayors in 2024. Economic development emerged as the most prominent topic, followed by infrastructure, housing, public safety, and public health. From experiences, these trends tend to match somewhat closely to issues facing our community, namely transportation and housing.
Economic development is highlighted as a critical area for municipal governance and strategic planning. In the report, mayors emphasize the importance of economic development in shaping the quality of life, attracting investment and talent, and ensuring fiscal stability. Strategies to address economic development challenges include business attraction and retention, downtown revitalization, and workforce development.
All three of these are of critical importance to communities in Miami County, including our own hometown of Troy. Most economic development and job creation is done by those firms already in business in the community, which necessitates a strong retention and expansion strategy. Downtown revitalization is also important as it helps not only create economic opportunity, it helps communities develop a sense of community identity and pride; Main Street organizations, like the ones in Troy, Piqua and Tipp City are critical to help downtown development. Child Care didn’t make the cut in the national report, but it’s importance as an economic development and workforce issue can not be understated. Child care costs are keeping our community’s younger women out of the traditional workforce.
Infrastructure is the second top priority, with a focus on the condition, upkeep, and new demand for community infrastructure and utilities, such as water systems, power grids, and transportation networks. Increased funding and seeking external support are among the methods to address these needs.
Most communities throughout the county have come out of the Covid-19 pandemic in a much stronger position in dealing with community infrastructure. Piqua recently opened up their Lock 9 Park (which includes a very nice splash pad) and Troy is looking to add more roundabouts after the conclusion of the reconstruction of West Main Street.
Housing challenges, including high costs and lack of supply, are significant concerns for cities. Affordable housing is fundamental to the well-being of residents and the economic vitality of communities. Most of the Mayors throughout the country are committed to fostering inclusive, sustainable cities by addressing issues such as affordability, homelessness, and supply. However, such issues aren’t well addressed here in Miami County.
Piqua has taken some steps forward in addressing this need. Welcoming developers using various tax credit programs lead to the development of much-needed multi-family housing on Wood Street. In addition, an updated zoning code provides options for accessory dwelling units in some areas of the community.
Troy, on the other hand, appears to have either no strategy, or a poorly articulated strategy on their preference for developing housing that meets any type of affordability threshold. The City’s attitude seems to be to continue to develop market rate housing that will continue to put homeownership out of reach of most of the community’s families.
Public safety and health services are also prominent themes in mayoral discussions. Issues such as substance use, mental health, and cybersecurity are among the most concerning public health and safety issues for American mayors. There is a strong emphasis on providing quality social services, mental health services, and recreation opportunities.
The report highlights the diverse strategies city leaders use to communicate with residents. Social media platforms are utilized by 77% of mayors, followed by town hall meetings (68%), press releases (58%), and newsletters (55%). These strategies reflect the modern trend toward digital engagement and the importance of transparency and civic involvement in the governance process.
Implications for Small Midwestern in Our Own Backyard
For the cities throughout Miami County, the emphasis on economic development in the NLC report underscores the need for proactive measures to attract and retain businesses. Our towns can benefit from focusing on downtown revitalization and workforce development to enhance their competitive edge; child care continuing to be a challenge that needs to be addressed in a collaborative and comprehensive fashion.
Housing affordability and supply are pressing issues for many small cities. The NLC report's focus on housing challenges suggests that cities like Troy should develop comprehensive housing strategies that address affordability, reduce homelessness, and increase housing supply. Partnering with developers and non-profits to create affordable housing options can help meet the needs of residents and attract a diverse workforce.
Effective communication with residents is crucial for small cities. The report's findings on the use of social media and traditional communication methods highlight the need for a multifaceted approach. In particular, Troy can enhance civic engagement by utilizing social media platforms for real-time interaction and feedback, while also maintaining traditional methods such as town hall meetings and newsletters to reach a broader audience. In all honestly, Troy’s approach to social media is seriously lacking - not allowing comments or interactions on social media posts is not a form of one-way communication that is not conducive to engaging residents in a helpful or meaningful fashion.
Bringing It All Together
The National League of Cities 2024 State of the Cities report provides valuable insights into the priorities and challenges faced by municipal governments. For small Midwestern communities here in Miami County, the report's findings emphasize the importance of economic development, infrastructure, housing, public safety, and health services. By adopting proactive strategies and leveraging state and federal support, small cities can address these challenges and create thriving, inclusive communities for their residents.
What do you think? What issues are important for our communities here in Miami County to tackle? How are our communities doing? Our paid subscribers are more than welcome to leave their ideas and insights in the comment thread!
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