Newport News has been selected to join the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance, a group of local governments across the Americas that use data and technology to improve city services. The announcement was made by Mayor Phillip Jones.
The initiative aims to help cities use artificial intelligence and digital tools to address issues such as housing instability, public safety, youth and family services, and access to green spaces and resilient infrastructure. Newport News will receive expert support to enhance its data capabilities and apply new technologies toward these goals.
“This recognition is a testament to the work Newport News has already done to embrace innovation and improve outcomes for our residents,” said Mayor Jones. “By joining the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance, we’re doubling down on our commitment to being a forward-thinking, data-driven city. We’re building smarter systems to connect people to the services they need, when they need them—faster, more efficiently, and more equitably.”
As government services often rely on older paper-based processes despite widespread mobile access, generative AI offers an opportunity for modernization. By using these technologies, cities can anticipate problems earlier and allocate resources more effectively.
Through participation in the alliance, Newport News will receive technical support for staff training and data infrastructure improvement; guidance on designing digital services centered around residents; and access to a network of cities sharing best practices.
“City halls aren’t waiting for the future—they’re building it,” said James Anderson of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Government Innovation program. “The Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance is backing localities to lead in the age of AI. These municipalities will show the world how government can be faster, smarter, and fair—using data and technology to meet real needs, deliver efficiently, and make measurable progress people feel.”
Newport News joins 14 other cities in this cohort: Austin (TX), Belo Horizonte (Brazil), Bogotá (Colombia), Boston (MA), Dallas (TX), Denver (CO), Kansas City (MO), Lo Barnechea (Chile), Medellín (Colombia), Porto Alegre (Brazil), Santiago (Chile), São Paulo (Brazil), Toronto (Canada) and Vicente López (Argentina).
Other alliance members have used data strategies with notable results: Baltimore implemented a violence reduction plan leading to fewer homicides; Seattle reduced processing times for housing applications; Tampa deployed emergency resources during hurricanes more quickly; Luján de Cuyo created water-monitoring systems; Santo Domingo established early warning alerts for flooding.
“The mayors in the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance will be on the forefront of harnessing data, analytics, and AI to tackle urban challenges—and seize opportunities,” said Latricia Boone from Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence. “Their municipalities will serve as hubs of innovation—modernizing services, streamlining permitting, mitigating disasters, and more, all in service of real outcomes that improve lives.”
The alliance is run with support from GovEx at Johns Hopkins University. It builds upon What Works Cities Certification standards developed by Results for America. The group now includes 80 cities across 12 countries representing over 78 million people.
More information about this expansion can be found at https://www.bloomberg.org/press/bloomberg-philanthropies-expands-international-city-data-alliance-with-15-new-municipalities-across-the-americas/
