Playbook Offered To Towns Asking For Federal Help
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) - Several cities, including Camden and Philadelphia, have developed close partnerships with the federal government on a number of fronts over the last few years.
Now, Johns Hopkins University has developed what's being referred to as a playbook for other cities across the country to follow to do the same thing.
The playbook -- the product of the school's 21st Century Cities Initiative -- shows how the Obama Administration has tried a different way to assist cities in need. It was unveiled this week during a symposium in Baltimore.
Camden Mayor Dana Redd's experience addressing everything from poverty to crime is part of that new blueprint.
"They really have taken a bottoms up approach in working with cities such as Camden, Philadelphia, Chicago and LA, building capacity in the localities so that change model is led from communities at the local level," Redd told KYW Newsradio.
Her advice to towns that use the new playbook?
"Customize your approach based on your needs and your challenges in your municipality," she says. "Involve the community at the early stages of visioning so that they can have a stake in implementing the plan when it comes time for implementation."
The playbook is being offered online for towns to better coordinate and develop proposals they make to the feds for help on everything from crime prevention to economic development.
