Polling data released from the Strong, Prosperous, And Resilient Communities Challenge (SPARCC) shows that most Americans agree hard work alone cannot lift people out of poverty when there is a lack of access to opportunities. Moreover, there is strong support for investing in local projects that would increase economic opportunities. The polling data is part of a new report by SPARCC, “How Local Leadership Can Drive Prosperity for All: A new vision for promoting equitable growth and infrastructure development in America’s communities.”
Potentially trillions of dollars in public and private infrastructure investments will be funneled into American cities over the next decade, and an estimated $3.6 trillion is needed by 2020 to upgrade and build new infrastructure. The time is ripe for public-private partnerships that encourage investing in neighborhoods in ways that benefit all residents and help lift entrenched barriers to opportunity.
Evidence shows that where Americans grow up is one of the strongest predictors of their future chances for economic mobility. In the past, local and regional infrastructure investments were made in ways that often divided neighborhoods and limited opportunities, particularly for people of color and low-income communities. This produced areas where residents lack access to job centers, public transportation, and healthy foods, and experience worse health outcomes and impacts of climate change. The report makes the case for locally driven solutions that ensure major new infrastructure investments lead to better opportunities for all.
