Newport News Joins Prestigious Bloomberg City Data Alliance
City to harness AI and digital tools to improve services and drive innovation
Mayor Phillip Jones announced this week that Newport News has been chosen to join the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance, a highly selective initiative focused on using data and technology to improve the lives of residents. The alliance equips cities with expert support to strengthen digital infrastructure, adopt emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, and develop resident-centered services.
“This partnership will help Newport News move faster, work smarter, and deliver better results for our residents,” said Mayor Jones. “We’re focused on reducing housing instability, improving public safety, expanding youth and family services, and creating more resilient, connected neighborhoods—and the City Data Alliance will help us get there.”
Through its participation, Newport News will receive:
Technical assistance to upgrade digital systems and train city staff
Expert guidance in designing services that center on residents’ needs
Access to a global network of innovative cities to share best practices.
The city’s selection reflects its growing reputation for innovation in the public sector, and a commitment to modernizing outdated processes that continue to burden residents. While mobile access is nearly universal, many services—like applying for housing vouchers, permits, or benefits—still depend on slow, paper-based systems. With generative AI and real-time data, Newport News aims to anticipate problems before they arise and allocate resources more effectively.
The latest cohort includes 15 cities across North and South America, such as Boston, Austin, Toronto, Bogotá, and São Paulo. Newport News is the only city from Virginia in this round. Other participating cities have already seen major impacts. Baltimore used data analytics to reduce homicides in key areas, Seattle slashed application processing times from 30 to 6 minutes, and Tampa deployed real-time disaster response during hurricanes.
The City Data Alliance is supported by the Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University and builds on the What Works Cities Certification, a national benchmark for data-driven government. The initiative now includes 80 cities from 12 countries, serving more than 78 million residents.
“City halls aren’t waiting for the future—they’re building it,” said James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “The City Data Alliance is backing localities like Newport News to lead in the age of AI.”
A Newport News Daily contributor produced this post with AI tools and the following primary sources:
City of Newport News to Join Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance
Bloomberg Philanthropies Expands International City Data Alliance with 15 New Municipalities Across the Americas