Pasco Selected by National League of Cities to Join National Network Focused on Community Revitalization for Health and Equity
The City of Pasco is proud to join a 12-month cohort to drive community revitalization for all Pasco residents, particularly those historically and systemically excluded.
Mayor Blanche Barajas said of the announcement, "The City of Pasco, like many cities across the nation, is working hard to address the need for equitable community development. The NLC's Mayors' Institute on Advancing Community Revitalization to Improve Health and Equity will be another valuable addition to the toolbox as we address access to housing, mobility, and economic development and our approach toward reaching community resiliency. We are proud to be only one of 5 cities in the nation to be selected for this program."
Over the next several months, Pasco will work as part of five local government teams to increase understanding and develop plans addressing how infrastructure, planning, zoning, and the built environment shape health inequities. The National League of Cities (NLC), through its Cities of Opportunity initiative, aims to help local leaders align and connect the many factors that affect their residents' health and life expectancy and learn to embed resiliency in their communities.
The City of Pasco was selected for the initiative as a result of the City Council's and City staff's leadership and commitment to equitable community revitalization. This effort builds on the City's proven track record of bringing together various multi-sector stakeholders in the community to drive toward change. Over the past several years, Pasco has made significant progress in updating policy frameworks that directly influence community development. Pasco has made bold changes to land use and transportation plans, emphasizing the importance of housing attainability and mobility choices. The recently adopted Downtown Plan identifies specific strategies that carry out the community's interests, needs, and vision to create a thriving downtown. The ongoing Housing Action Plan will further efforts to increase access to housing and connect people to more places and neighborhoods.
"Local governments across the U.S. are pushing innovative approaches to advance community revitalization," said Robert Blaine, senior executive and director of NLC's Center for Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) at the National League of Cities. "NLC is proud to work with the City of Pasco to foster equitable communities and neighborhood revitalization aimed at reducing health disparities and inequities in physical environments."
The Cities of Opportunity Mayors' Institute runs from January 2023 through February 2024 and is generously supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The National League of Cities (NLC) is the voice of America's cities, towns and villages, representing more than 200 million people. NLC relentlessly advocates for and protects the interest of cities, towns and villages by influencing federal policy, strengthening local leadership and driving innovative solutions.
The City of Pasco strives to continue improving the quality of community life in Pasco.