City of Richmond selected to participate in National League of Cities workforce support initiative

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The City of Richmond has been selected to participate in the National League of Cities’ 18-month technical assistance initiative, Cities Addressing Basic Needs to Promote Postsecondary and Workforce Success.  

As part of the program, the National League of Cities, with generous support from the Kresge Foundation, will offer technical assistance to support the City of Richmond’s efforts to build strong and equitable pathways to postsecondary and workforce success. The initiative focuses on removing barriers to success after high school, such as a lack of food, housing, childcare or transportation, which too often get in the way of obtaining postsecondary degrees or certificates.

Richmond’s multi-sector city team, which includes leadership from ChamberRVA, Reynolds Community College, and the Office of Mayor Levar M. Stoney, will receive targeted support to implement policies, practices and programs to remove such barriers. That support will include ongoing technical assistance from the National League of Cities and other experts and a Cross-City Leadership Academy in the winter of 2020. The program will culminate with a national briefing in Washington, DC.

Richmond is one of seven cities participating in the program, joining the cities of Chula Vista, CA, Rochester, NY, Denver, CO, Oakland, CA, Philadelphia, PA, and San Diego, CA.

“Too many of our residents are prevented from reaching their God-given potential because of the inability to meet very basic needs,” said Mayor Stoney. “We look forward to working with these national experts on effective approaches to breaking down barriers to pave the way to success for our residents.”

Said Dr. Paula Pando, President of Reynolds Community College, “Reynolds is thrilled to partner with the City of Richmond to improve educational and future workforce opportunities for residents of the city. We look forward to supporting the needs of a diverse community and eliminating barriers to post-secondary success.”


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