Fort Lauderdale has earned the What Works Cities Certification from Results for America, as announced by Bloomberg Philanthropies. This certification recognizes cities that use data to improve policy decisions, services, and community engagement.
According to the City of Fort Lauderdale announcement, this achievement marks a milestone for Fort Lauderdale and 20 other new cities, including four Canadian cities that have joined the data-driven initiative. Fort Lauderdale's use of data, particularly in analyzing flood risk to improve stormwater infrastructure in 25 neighborhoods, is one example of how the city applies data for climate adaptation. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis stated, "Prioritizing the right climate adaptation projects requires careful location-specific risk assessments. I’m proud of our enhanced infrastructure strategy, and I’m especially proud that Fort Lauderdale is being recognized through What Works Cities Certification for putting data at the center of our climate resilience work."
The certification evaluates cities based on 43 criteria, with Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels depending on how many criteria are met. This process encourages cities to prioritize data and evidence in decision-making.
Rochelle Haynes, Managing Director of Bloomberg Philanthropies' What Works Cities Certification, emphasized the importance of using data in government. She said in the same announcement, "At a time when people are questioning the role of government, and what good government looks like, governments must be better at using data to know what is and isn’t working – and that is what the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification stands for."
The initiative is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies' broader efforts, which in 2024 included $3.7 billion in funding for areas like the arts, education, and public health. Fort Lauderdale is now part of a global network of over 100 certified cities, demonstrating a growing trend of data use in urban management.
For more information about the certification and its criteria, cities can visit the What Works Cities website.
