City of Dubuque Chosen as One of 24 Cities for Cities Forward Program

SEPTEMBER 19, 2023

The City of Dubuque is thrilled to announce it is one of the 24 cities selected to participate in the Cities Forward program. This is a collaborative initiative between the U.S. Department of State, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Resilient Cities Catalyst, and the Institute of the Americas. Launched at the Cities Summit of the Americas, this program is dedicated to assisting Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and U.S. cities in creating sustainable, inclusive, and resilient futures through project consultation, co-design, and knowledge sharing.

With a strong response of 129 applications for just 24 openings from cities across the Americas, Dubuque is proud to participate in this program focused on urban sustainability, resilience, and inclusion. The City is also pleased to share experiences and solutions with other cities during the Cities Forward Academy at the final phase of the program in 2025.

Among the other selected cities are: 

1.  Ambato, Ecuador + Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2. Cali, Colombia + Baltimore, Maryland
3. Cartagena, Colombia + Denver, Colorado
4. Fortaleza, Brasil + Hawaii County, Hawaii
5. Freeport, Bahamas + Coral Springs, Florida
6. Guatemala City, Guatemala + Dallas, Texas
7. Hermosillo, México + Dubuque, Iowa
8. Manaus, Brasil + Stockton, California
9. Mérida, México + Austin, Texas
10. Montego Bay, Jamaica + Hoboken, New Jersey
11. Renca, Chile + Evanston, Illinois
12. Rosario, Argentina + Chattanooga, Tennessee

“Dubuque’s selection for the Cities Forward program is an exciting opportunity for us to share ideas and experiences, while also absorbing the information and expertise that our new friends in Hermosillo have to offer,” says City of Dubuque Sustainability Coordinator Gina Bell, who organized Dubuque’s application for the program.

"We are thrilled to collaborate with these cities and tap into their ingenuity and creativity," stated Angie Fyfe, ICLEI USA Executive Director. "By bringing together local expertise and global perspectives, we can craft innovative, inclusive sustainable solutions that will have a lasting impact across the world.”

The City of Dubuque looks forward to working closely with Hermosillo to build equitable and inclusive economic opportunities, strengthen sustainability, and promote a healthy environment for all. For more information, visit https://icleiusa.org/cities-forward

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MEDIA CONTACT
Gina Bell, Sustainability Coordinator
GBell@cityofdubuque.org, 563-690-6038