Mayor Ben McAdams is one of 16 national finalists selected for coming up with an innovative policy solution in local government.
The ‘New Ideas Challenge 2014’ is a competition sponsored by The New DEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders) network—a group of pro-growth leaders serving in elected office around the U.S.
The finalists were announced by two of the honorary chairs of the NewDEAL—Governor Jack Markell of Delaware and Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland.
Mayor McAdams is a member of the NewDEAL—a national network of pro-growth state and local elected officials working to expand opportunity in the changing economy. He is a finalist in the “Best Public-Private Partnership” category for the county’s pay for success pilot program that helped expand access to voluntary, high-quality preschool for 600 economically-disadvantaged children in the Granite School District’s public preschool program. Salt Lake County partnered with Voices for Utah Children, United Way of Salt Lake and Goldman Sachs on the pay for success project.
“At a time of national gridlock, I’m proud that Salt Lake County is showing how—in a bipartisan way—we can solve problems, providing families with an opportunity to pursue a bright future for their children. Another important result is that we’re saving taxpayer dollars by partnering with both the private and the nonprofit sectors to fund this innovative initiative,” said Mayor McAdams.
More information about the pay for success approach is available here.
Mayor McAdams was chosen as one of 16 finalists out of a total of 60 applicants by an esteemed panel of judges who are thought leaders in the policy arena. A winner in each of four categories—growing the economy for the future, expanding opportunity for all, making government work better, and best public private partnership—will be announced on December 3rd in Washington, D.C.
“As a Governor and former Mayor, I know that the best ideas about moving our country forward often come from innovators on the front lines of state and local governments. I’m thrilled by the New DEAL ‘New Ideas Challenge’ and know it will stimulate the kind of fresh thinking we need,” said Governor O’Malley, Honorary NewDEAL Co-Chair.
