Governing is the media partner for the NewDEAL Ideas Challenge 2023. Selection of the finalists and winners is the sole responsibility of The NewDEAL, a national network for state and local elected leaders with innovative ideas to grow progress.
This biennium's 20 finalists are organized across four categories:
- Effective Use of Federal Funds
- Lowering Costs and Creating Economic Opportunities for Families
- Promoting Equity and Targeting Underserved Communities
- Protecting Democracy and Fostering Community Engagement
Effective Use of Federal Funds
Federal CHIPS Funding Powers Trailblazing Initiatives for Diverse Semiconductor Workforce and Educational Equity
Summary: Grant programs to build a diverse workforce in tech and advanced manufacturing sectors and build on the federal CHIPS Act
Enhancing Safety, Capacity and Quality: Brett Smiley's Initiative Reshapes Providence's Child-Care Landscape
Summary: Uses American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for technical support, planning and construction grants to home-based and center-based child-care providers and centers
Jones' Innovative Housing Initiative Uses ARPA Funds to Provide Legal Aid, Addressing Eviction Crisis
Summary: A program using ARPA funds to provide access to legal services for tenants facing eviction proceedings, which occurs more commonly in majority-Black census tracts.
ARPA-Funded Initiative Enhances Employee Retention, Economic Mobility and City's Business Landscape
Summary: An ARPA funding initiative, the city provides grants to help businesses with employee retention by raising wages by calculating average pay per industry and position.
Chester County's Innovative E3 Initiative Uses ARPA Grants to Train and Secure Employment for Justice System Returnees
Summary: Free 12-week program that offers individuals exiting the justice system with a direct pathway to enter the manufacturing industry
Details on the entries in the category are available here.
Lowering Costs and Creating Economic Opportunities for Families
Mayor Stoney's Initiative Aims to Boost Access to Postsecondary Education, Nurturing Student Success With Cash Allowance and Mentorship
Summary: Program that covers the tuition of any Richmond public school graduate to attend the local community college and take advantage of additional resources to open more pathways for students to achieve postsecondary goals
Clarke Tucker's Act 656 Eliminates Meal Costs, Leveraging State Funding to Alleviate Financial Strain on Eligible Families
Summary: A bill to extend free school meals to include families that qualify for reduced-price meals. It will utilize federal funds.
Kristen Cloutier's Innovative Initiative Promises 12 Weeks of Paid Leave for All Eligible Workers
Summary: Provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave per year to all eligible employees who take leave to care for their own health needs and to care for any individual with whom they have a significant personal bond
Jeff Bridges' Market-Oriented Approach Aims to Tackle Affordable Housing Crisis
Summary: Creates market-based incentives to drive the development of housing that is affordable for middle-income folks, leveraging tax-free municipal bonds and social impact investors to attract private capital
Chris Hansen's Landmark Legislation Targets Broad Climate Mitigation
Summary: Bill advances bold greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals to 100 percent net zero by 2050 and provides incentives across many sectors including, individual tax incentive for electric equipment and a new authority of the Energy and Carbon Management Commission to promote carbon capture and storage.
Details on the entries in the category are available here.
Promoting Equity and Targeting Underserved Communities
Proposed Bill Aims to Update Outdated Funding Formula, Prioritizing Resources for Students in Poverty, Across Urban, Suburban and Rural Areas
Summary: Establishes “opportunity weight” to allocate additional resources for students in poverty and help schools meet diverse educational needs of students and eliminate disparities
Landmark Legislation Aims to Stabilize Rent, Foster Equity and Keep Residents in Their Homes
Summary: Stabilizes rent with a 3 percent annual cap and establishes oversight for landlord responsibilities and rights.
Landmark Legislation Aims to Remove Barriers for Individuals With Criminal Histories, Promoting Equal Access to Housing
Summary: Enables individuals with older criminal histories to have a fair chance at securing housing and ensures transparency by requiring housing providers to provide a physical disclosure stating the reasons for denying an applicant
Strategic Plans and ARPA Funding Drive Development of State-of-the-Art Early Childhood Education Centers, Fostering Community Growth and Empowering Working Families
Summary: Develops a fully accredited childhood center that is available to low-income families
Proposed Legislation Seeks to Enhance Housing Access by Limiting Criminal History Inquiries and Application Fees
Summary: Job website that features updated Shelby County positions for individuals with arrest or conviction records
Details on the entries in the category are available here.
Protecting Democracy and Fostering Community Engagement
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver Celebrates Passage of Key Bills — NM Voting Rights Act and Election Infrastructure Bill — Promoting Access and Modernizing Election Processes, While Enacting a Pioneering Native American Voting Rights Act Provision.
Summary: Bill to restore voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals; strengthen New Mexico’s automatic voter registration system; create a permanent absentee ballot list and expand the use of secure ballot drop boxes
Colorado's Jefferson County Pioneers a Transparent and Community-Involved Redistricting Process, Promoting Public Engagement and Inclusive Representation Through Accessible, Open and Participatory Map Drawing.
Summary: Division of Elections to biennially mail a notice to all registered voters containing pertinent information, including their polling place, the dates and times of the general and any primary elections, registration deadlines, and polling place and early-voting policies and procedures
Ron Nirenberg Champions Program Extending Free Compassion Micro-Courses Nationwide, Impacting Policies and Education at Various Levels
Summary: People-centered campaign with an accompanying micro-course to promote compassion and community healing
Championed by Josh Becker, SB 485 Aims to Expand Legal Protections for Election Workers Amid Rising Aggression, Gains Traction in California Assembly
Summary: Expands the existing felony of interfering with election officials, voters and the voting process to protect temporary election workers and broadens the definition of “voting at an election” to include in-person voting at polling places, the office of the election official, satellite locations and voting by mail.
Details on the entries in the category are available here.
