Bloomberg Mayors Challenge ApplicationCity of Dubuque
ITEM TITLE:
SUMMARY:
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION:
Copyrighted
November 6, 2017
Consent Items # 17.
Bloomberg Mayors Challenge Application
City Manager recommending approval of a Phase I
Application to the Bloomberg Mayors Challenge.
Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Bloomberg Mayors Challenge Phase I Application -MVM City Manager Memo
Memo
Staff Memo
Mayors Challenge Grant Application
Staff Memo
Supporting Documentation
THE CITY OF
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Bloomberg Mayors Challenge Phase I Application
DATE: November 1, 2017
Dubuque
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2007.2012
2013.2017
Assistant City Manager Cori Burbach recommends City Council approval of a Phase I
Application to the Bloomberg Mayors Challenge. There is no financial match or other
commitment required of the City of Dubuque. The City of Dubuque partnered with the
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque to prepare the application to address early
childcare needs in Dubuque.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Miiiigen'
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Masterpiece off the Miss
TO:
FROM: Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Bloomberg Mayors Challenge Phase I Application
DATE: October 31, 2017
ipf1i
Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
Dubuque
2007-2012
2013.2017
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request City Council approval of the attached Phase I
application to the Bloomberg Mayors Challenge.
BACKGROUND
The 2017 Bloomberg Mayors Challenge was launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies to
encourage innovation by mayors and cities across the United States. Applicants are
encouraged to submit innovative proposals that address the most challenging issues
facing cities, and will be judged based on their proposal's bold vision, opportunity for
impact and transferability, and implementation potential.
Thirty-five cities Champion Cities will be selected from Phase I applications, and will
receive $100,000 to test and refine their proposals during 2018. Following their testing
phase, cities will distill learnings and resubmit a final application. One winning city will
receive $5 million, and four cities will each receive $1 million.
DISCUSSION
After participating in a daylong innovation workshop facilitated by Bloomberg
Philanthropies, the City of Dubuque partnered with the Community Foundation of
Greater Dubuque to prepare the attached application. The application proposes a
collective impact solution to address early childcare needs in Dubuque. The topic was
chosen after a recently -completed Dubuque Community Needs Assessment on
Childcare identified gaps in childcare services that were both a) impeding residents from
being able to fully participate in the workforce and secure living -wage jobs and b)
hindering early child development, which sets a child on a trajectory for success in
elementary school.
The proposed Dubuque Cares About Kids (DCAK) initiative will increase access to
affordable, quality childcare and lay the foundation for a thriving workforce. Ultimately,
the initiative will increase the number of parents that are able to participate in the
1
workforce and help bridge the gender wage gap as women will be more likely to stay in
the workplace and not lose 3-4 times of their annual salary due to lack of childcare
options. A free, simple app would be developed that lets parents search for real-time
childcare openings, whether it be for drop-in care because of a sick child, full-time
center -based care, or to locate a nearby home-based provider. The app will make sure
the provider's payment options work for parents and also identify childcare subsidies
and tax credits.
Key proposed activities include development and launch of the DCAK app, childcare
provider engagement, employer engagement, and public education and advocacy.
If chosen as a Champion City, Dubuque would have six months and $100,000 from
Bloomberg Philanthropies to develop the app. If chosen as a Phase II winner,
$1,000,000 in Bloomberg Philanthropies would be used to fully build out the app, hire
program staff, and conduct marketing and outreach.
BUDGET IMPACT
There is no financial match or other commitment required of the City of Dubuque.
REQUESTED ACTION
I respectfully request City Council approval of the attached application to the Bloomberg
Mayors Challenge program.
Cc: Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
2
EXECUTIVE SUM LYRV
Elevator Pitch: Imagine you ran into Mike Bloomberg in an elevator and had to pitch him on
your idea. How would you make a clear, compelling case for both the problem facing your city
and how your idea will address it? Be sure to include specific examples and data. (250 words)
Residents in the City of Dubuque. especially women. face barriers to finding and affording
quality childcare that often impedes their ability to participate in the workplace. Major employers
report a growing need for more workers in a tight labor market. however. lack of childcare
access is a major barrier to local workforce participation. In fact. half of low-income residents
have turned down a job due to childcare affordability and more than 40°o have chosen not to
work because they were unable to locate childcare. Imagine having a free. simple app that lets
parents search for real-time childcare openings. whether it be for drop-in care because of a sick
child. full-time center -based care. or to locate a nearby home-based provider. The app will make
sure the provider's payment options work for parents and also identify childcare subsidies and
tax credits. The Dubuque Cares About Kids initiative will increase access to affordable. quality
childcare and lay the foundation for a thriving workforce. Ultimately, the initiative will increase
the number of parents that are able to participate in the workforce and help bridge the gender
wage gap as women will be more likely to stay in the workplace and not lose 3-4 times of their
annual salary due to lack of childcare options.
(210 words)
People Affected: Estimate the number of people your problem affects. Provide a brief
explanation of how you came to this number. (100 words)
According to 2015 American Community Survey data. there are 4.230 families in Dubuque that
have 1 worker that is employed and there are 1.905 families that have no workers in the
household. Combined, we estimate there are 6,135 individuals directly affected by the lack of
childcare access and their participation in the workforce. with this problem impacting more than
10°0 of Dubuque's population. The app would increase the opportunities for these individuals to
consider re-entering the workforce. Surprisingly. this number is close to the estimated 6.160
women in Dubuque between the ages 15-44 that have children (U.S. Census Bureau).
(99 words)
People Helped: Estimate the number of people your idea will help when it is fully
implemented Provide a brief explanation of how you came to this number. (100 words)
At least 3.068 individuals will use the Dubuque Cares About Kids app to access childcare
information after full implementation. As there is currently no comprehensive searchable
resource to locate a variety of childcare providers that shows real-time availability in Dubuque. it
is estimated that at least 50°0 of the 6.135 parents not participating in the workforce will use the
Dubuque Cares About Kids resource to identify childcare support. Additionally. other parents
and families will utilize the app that are already in the workforce to either supplement their
existing childcare or research additional or new providers.
(95 words)
Categorize Your Solution: Is your solution primarily (a) solving an issue❑specific problem., or
(b) improving the way city government works? (choose one only)
o Economic & Workforce Development
Investigative Methods: Which methods below did you use to investigate the problem and
come up with your idea?
❑ Quantitative data analysis XXXX
❑ Qualitative research, such as interviewing or shadowing residents XXXXX
❑ Other: Dubuque Community Needs Assessment on Child Care XXXX
DEFINE THE PROBLEM
1. The Problem: What is the problem you aim. to solve? (25 words)
A lack of access to affordable, quality childcare is prohibiting individuals, and disproportionately
women, from participating in the workforce that affects gender pay equity.
(24 words)
2. Impact on Citizens: What is the current and long❑term impact of this problem on the
citizens of your city? How did you quantify this impact? If the problem is not addressed,
what will be the consequences? (300 words)
Current and Long -Term Impacts of the Problem:
• Tough choices for parents with young children will continue to be faced in regard to
work. According to the Dubuque Community Needs Assessment on Child Care half of
low-income individuals turned down a job due to childcare affordability and more than
40% chose not to work because they could not find a provider.
• Women are more likely to stop working to provide childcare and when a parent leaves
the workforce to care for their children, they will lose 3-4 times their annual salary for
each year they are not working, affecting their overall lifetime earnings and benefit
accumulation (Center for American Progress).
• The current gender wage gap in Dubuque is more than $10,000/year in median earnings
where women earn 76% of what men earn (2015 American Community Survey). The
Center for American Progress notes that improved childcare access allows more women
to work and helps reduce the gender pay gap.
• Businesses have an ongoing need for more workers due to a tight labor market and a low
county unemployment rate of 3.1% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics August 2017).
According to recent Greater Dubuque Development Corporation interviews with Human
Resources staff, 1/3 of employers indicated that childcare was a barrier for their
workforce.
• A cycle of poverty may continue for the 83°0 of single -mother households in Dubuque
that are raising children at poverty income levels (2015 American Community Survey).
According to Legal Momentum, women and children represent 70°0 of Americans that
face poverty.
Potential consequences of not addressing the problem include a continued gender wage gap. less
overall lifetime earnings for parents that leave the workplace. families leaving the area or not
considering Dubuque as a home and a continued need for workers.
(290 words)
DESCRIBE THE InMPACT OF YOUR IDEA
3. Idea: Describe your big idea to address the problem. If pour idea is successful, how will the
world be different in three years? 131:at are the main activities and how will these lead to
the desired changes? (300 words)
The Dubuque Cares About Kids project will focus on the development of an innovative app and
complementary website that is implemented and supported by a corresponding team and
marketing campaign. With a wide range of search fields that allows a parent to hone in on a
childcare provider that meets their needs. the app's innovative ingredient is the ability to access
real-time information about childcare availability. The outreach team will focus on childcare
provider enrollment and participation. employer engagement and education. as well as advocacy
efforts in support of systemic changes that need to occur to remove the institutional barriers that
lack of affordable childcare access presents to workforce participation.
In three years. the main activity of providing the app will support women and caregivers with
expanded access to affordable. quality childcare. allowing those parents to either increase their
work hours or re-enter the workforce.
Marketing will be targeted directly to childcare providers to ensure as close to a 100°0
participation rate as possible. Childcare providers will actively participate with the app. which
will provide more efficient interactions with parents and enhance their ability to fill available
childcare spots. Outreach will be targeted to the business community so employers encourage
use of the app with their employees and during recruitment. Outreach will also provide education
about the advantages of providing childcare -related benefits. leading to increased support of
working parents.
Ultimately, we believe the marketing. outreach. and full implementation of the app will result in
systemic changes in regard to childcare affordability. begin to close to the gender pay gap. and
support increased pay for childcare workers while providing affordable. quality childcare.
(271 words)
-4. Previous Efforts: All "new" ideas stand on the shoulders of ideas that came before. Tell
us about other efforts that have inspired or informed aspects of your idea. (100 words)
The City of Dubuque has watched the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque tackle similar
issues head-on using a combination of innovation. collective impact and community engagement
with the result of systemic change. The Re-engage Dubuque program worked with community
partners to identify. reach out to and support individuals that dropped out of high school and
assisted their journey to earning their diploma or achieving their high school equivalency.
Additionally. previous Mayor's Challenge awardees' use of technology provided inspiration in
identifying a solution that harnessed the power of the Internet age to support transformative and
innovative community efforts.
(97 words)
5. Outside Contributions: Great ideas often come from unexpected places and people. What
were the greatest contributions (ideas, suggestions, problem framing, etc.) from sources
outside of pour government? (150 words)
The Dubuque Cares About Kids app and project stands firmly on the work of Project HOPE.
which cast a wide net to gain insight for a 2016 Dubuque Community Needs Assessment on
Child Care. Project HOPE is hosted by the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and
includes several community partners. The research team reached out to local childcare providers.
surveyed close to 600 parents and gained feedback from social service providers. government
entities and the business community. The needs assessment was able to frame and quantify the
issue around access. affordability and workforce participation.
The idea for an app is built on a stakeholder's experience of receiving a long list of childcare
providers to sort through and wishing that there was an easier way to access childcare
information. The time spent to decipher the printed material and then to make phone calls
researching providers seemed like an overwhelming task.
(149 words)
6. Innovative Idea: What makes your idea innovative? How is the approach unexpected and
new to the city? If pour idea builds on an existing idea from another city (or your own),
please be explicit about the elements that are new (200 words)
The Dubuque Cares About Kids app is innovative in that no other childcare -focused apps capture
real-time childcare availability and provide a comprehensive search feature in order to quickly
find a childcare provider that meets the needs of each parent.
In researching other apps that address childcare solutions. there were 3 available for the iPhone.
Two apps focus on accessing babysitters / nannies and charge a fee (Care.com and Trusted Child
Care). The Dubuque app will be free and offer information on all types of childcare. from center -
based. school system offerings. City before/after school care or seasonal programs. and in-home
providers that support parental workforce participation. Another app. DaycarelQ. is a
countrywide childcare database in Canada. The Dubuque app will differ by providing localized.
comprehensive. real-time information on childcare providers. In brainstorming the concept. the
app would take elements of what VRBO or AirBNB apps provide for real-time booking of
vacation rentals and apply it to finding a childcare provider. allowing for a variety of search
options and real-time availability information. Another inspiration to actively engage childcare
providers to maintain up-to-date information was Quickbooks, where the Dubuque platform
would offer billing and scheduling services as benefits to childcare providers.
(198 words)
SHOW THE InMPACT OF YOUR IDEA
7. Outputs, Outcomes and Impact: Outline what the a. immediate outputs, b. shortLterm
outcomes, and c. longLterm impacts will be if pour idea is implemented successfidlp.
Please indicate the dates kr whtch Jou expect to achieve those outputs, outcomes and
impacts. Include the major milestones for each of the first three years. Assume a March 1,
2018 start date, tirhich is when testing is slated to begin for Champion Cities. (200 words)
Immediate Outputs (200 words)
The testing phase would develop a pilot app by June 2018 and 10 childcare providers will be
enrolled. 2 major employers will be engaged for feedback on the app and 50 parents will test and
provide feedback by the end of the six-month testing phase in late September 2018.
If selected for implementation. the first milestone will be to hire the 3 -person outreach team by
January 2019. By June 2019. 125 childcare providers will be enrolled in the app. According to
the Dubuque Community Needs Assessment for Child Care. there are 138 childcare providers in
the City that are documented by Child Care Resource and Referral.
By the end of 3 -year grant period (Feb 2021), 3.068 unique parents will have downloaded or
used the app. As documented earlier. it is expected that at least 50°0 of 6,135 Dubuque parents
that are not participating in the workforce will use the app. Major milestones include retaining
app development and IT support firms by February 2019 with a full-scale launch of the app in
July 2019.
(151 words)
Short -Term Outcomes (200 words)
By the end of the 3 -year grant period. 2.301 people have increased access to quality. affordable
childcare. Of the 3.068 expected unique users of the app. it is expected that 75°o will have
increased their access to childcare. Documentation to support this measurement will rely on
surveying parents near the end of the project to identify increased childcare access. Major
milestones include the successful launch of the app in July 2019 and related follow-up usability
testing that will occur throughout the grant to ensure a user-friendly and functional product. The
launch of a marketing campaign directed at parents will launch in July 2019 and run for the
duration of the grant project.
(112 words)
Long-term Impacts (200 words)
By the end of the 3 -year grant period. 30°0 fewer parents will experience barriers to workforce
participation due to a lack of childcare. According to the Dubuque Community Needs
Assessment for Child Care, in 2016 40°0 of low-income parents chose not to work due to lack of
childcare. It is expected that with improved ease of access to childcare options and payments, a
follow-up survey to parents will find that only 28°0 of low-income parents would experience
barriers to workforce participation due to lack of childcare and that the majority of parents will
not have to turn down work because of a lack of childcare. Major milestones to support this
impact include launch of the app in July 2019, the marketing campaign that will also launch in
July 2019 and employer engagement that will start in January 2020 and continue through the end
of the grant. These efforts will increase the number of parents that are able to participate in the
workforce and help bridge the gender wage gap.
(169 words)
8. Impact on Residents: How will residents know about this idea and hoar will it affect them
within 12 months of implementation? (200 words)
Residents will be informed about the availability of the Dubuque Cares about Kids app through
targeted citywide media outreach that may include social media, bus system advertising, local
television, radio or newspaper advertising and targeted outreach to parents at places they
frequent. Natural partners for outreach would include community health centers, kids play areas
(Mississippi River Museum, waterpark, etc.), parks, schools, the hospital. OB/Gyps, social
service agencies, and local employers. Flyers and posters about the app could be placed in
appropriate locations where parents take their children for activities. Another potential avenue to
promote the use of the app is at local events attended by parents and their children.
During the first 12 months of implementation we will be focused on enrolling parents into the
app to reach our goal of an estimated 15°0 of targeted parents that have either downloaded the
app or visited the complementary website. Assuming that 15°0 of 6.135 parents gained enhanced
access to affordable, quality childcare, that would result in 920 parents by the 12th
implementation month that found drop-in care so they did not have to miss work or were able to
increase their work hours or re-enter the workforce after having a baby.
(200 words)
9. Work Streams: Outline the key activities and anticipated dates for key phases of your
implementation by using the template below
Please list the major work streams required to implement your solution at scale — but please
limit to the top 5 workstreams. Include the major milestones for each of the first three years.
For a bold idea to come to life, it requires thoughtfid planning. Identify the major
workstreams you've identified to implement your idea, and the major milestones associated
with those workstreams overtime.
Workstream (list up Description
to 5 workstreams) (Provide a brief
description of the
work stream)
1 App Development.
Launch and
Evaluation
2 Engage Childcare
Providers
3 Engage Employers
and Business
Community
4 Marketing and
Outreach
Ensure the app
provides full
functionality and
measure impacts
Ensure active
participation of
childcare providers
Outreach to market
app and educate
about childcare -relate
benefit opportunities
Inform parents about
availability and
features of app
Major milestones (List
up to 5 milestones for
each work stream)
Milestone
1 Assess testing phase
feedback for next steps of
app development
Target Dates
Feb -19
2 Retain app developer Feb -19
and IT support firms
3 Launch full-scale app July -19
4 Provide ongoing Feb -21
outreach to assess use,
accessibility and collect
impacts
5 App updates as needed Feb -21
1 Hire and train outreach Jan -19
staff
2 Identify childcare
providers
3 Complete initial
enrollments
4 Ongoing outreach as
needed
5
1 Hire and train outreach
staff
Feb -19
June -19
Feb -21
Feb -19
2 Identify targeted March -19
employers and business
associations
3 Complete initial on-site Jan -20
visits to larger employers
4 Ongoing visits and Feb -21
outreach
5
1 Retain public relations March -19
firm
2 Develop marketing June -19
strategies
3 Implement using media July -19
venues and local
outreach
4 Ongoing outreach Feb -21
5
5 Education and Engage partners 1 Hire and train outreach Feb -19
Advocacy around childcare staff
systemic change
needs
2 Identify targeted
partners
3 Develop and expand
partnerships with
education and advocacy
efforts
4
5
Aug -19
Feb -21
10. Testing Your Idea: What assumptions, and/or components of your idea will you test if
you are selected as a Champion City? (As a reminder, up to 35 Champion Cities will be
selected to test their idea). How will you incorporate what you learn to increase the
likelihood of success for the overall initiative? (200 words)
The testing phase will support one employee at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
to lead the initial app development and stakeholder feedback. The testing phase will assess
several major components to ensure that the app will be successful:
• What are the best methods to support childcare providers with maintaining up-to-date
information about their entity and availability?
• What information and features are most important to parents and how will they use the
app to access information that they need?
• How will employers be able to promote the app to employees and are there specific
features that will support the business community?
• Is there interest in the app managing wait lists for childcare providers?
• What information about childcare provider quality and certifications are parents most
interested in?
• Are parents interested in streamlining their search by City neighborhoods?
• What additional information in the app about tax credits and childcare assistance are
parents interested in?
• What other app features would complement the primary searchable database?
• What are the best marketing venues to reach parents?
Testing feedback based on direct outreach to childcare providers and parents will be incorporated
into the implementation phase of the Dubuque Cares About Kids app.
(196 words)
11. Risk Factors: What are the three greatest risks to the success of your idea and why? If
you are selected as a Champion City (as a reminder, up to 35 cities will be selected to
test their idea), how will you use the testing phase to understand how to minimize any of
these risks? If so, how? (200 words)
In the development and launch of the Dubuque Cares About Kids app. the City has identified
three risks that could affect the success of the project.
1. Even with increased access to finding a range of child care providers. parents that are not
eligible for the state Child Care Assistance subsidy program may still not be able to find
affordable childcare options using the app. The testing phase will engage parents and
childcare providers to assess and begin to quantify this potential gap so that the
implementation segment can address this through education and advocacy efforts.
2. Even with all known childcare providers included in the app. the amount of childcare
needs exceeds the capacity of total providers. Gaining input from childcare providers
about the ability to manage waiting lists through the app could offer data collection on
what neighborhoods in the City would benefit from more childcare opportunities.
3. Parents do not access the app due to a lack of awareness or usability. The testing phase
will reach out to parents to gain critical feedback on app usability and desirable features.
An assessment of outreach methods that will reach parents will be another survey point
during the testing phase.
(200 words)
12. Resident Involvement: How will citizens and other groups be involved in your
implementation, and what will their level of involvement be? (100 words)
Citizens will be instrumental in both the testing phase. as well as the implementation. Gaining
app usability feedback. identifying critical information needed about childcare providers and
assessing and overcoming barriers to using the app will be essential inputs for citizen
participation during both phases. The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. which has
been a key partner on the subject of childcare as well as many other City endeavors. has agreed
to be the project lead. Other participating groups include Child Care Resource and Referral. Iowa
Workforce Development. Greater Dubuque Development Corporation and Dubuque County
Early Childhood.
(96 words)
13. Project Budget Estimate: What is the best estimate of the cost to implement and sustain
your idea? Please answer this question using the budget form below.
Note: For the full ❑ scale implementation budget, create your budget for the first three years,
which should include launch and bringing the idea to full scale Please also list the
anticipated sources of funding in the Sources table. In the sources table, please assume a
grant of $1 million.
Item
Sub -Contracting
Year One
Costs
Year Two
Year Three
Program Manager - $75,000
(100% of 1.0 FTE annual salary and fringe) to provide
oversight of program including marketing efforts, outreach,
and enrollment of child care facilities into program.
Proeram Support Staff - $65,000
(100% of 1.0 FTE annual salary and fringe) to provide outreach
and enrollment to childcare providers and employers
Program Support Staff - $65,000
(100% of 1.0 FTE annual salary and fringe) to provide
education, advocacy, and lobbying to bring awareness, data,
and information around building a better childcare delivery
system
App Developer Consultant ($55,000 in year 1 and $5,000 for
years 2 and 3) for development of additional features of app
in Phase II and to provide ongoing TA throughout program.
Graphic Desiener ($32,000 in year 1) for development of Logo,
Informational Flyers/Brochures, and Advertising Campaign
IT Consultant ($19,000 each year) to provide ongoing IT
support and in-house updates
$311,000 $229,000 $229,000
Travel
Mileage Reimbursement (Approximately 5,500 miles each at
National Mileage Reimbursement rate of $0.54/mile) for 1
Program Manager and 2 Support Staff to travel to child care
facilities for enrollment, employers, partner organizations and
an annual trip to the State Capital
$9,000
$9,000 $9,000
Marketing
Public Relations Firm ($40,000 each year) to launch an Annual
City -Wide Campaign
Marketing Costs ($20,200 each year) to purchase advertising
in different media —TV, Radio, Print
$60,200
$60,200 $60,200
Supplies
Misc. Office Supplies and Expenses ($300/mo or $3,600/yr)
Printine Costs ($3,000 each year) for Flyers/Brochures
Hotspot Service: $100/mo or $1200/yr for ongoing use of
hotspots to engage stakeholders with app on tablets using
portable hotspots
$7,800
$7,800 $7,800
Annual Totals I $388,000 $306,000 $306,000
Sources:
Mayor's Challenge Grant: $ USD $1,000,000
No other sources of funding to list.
Total Sources:
USD $1,000,000
Grand Total $1,000,000
14. Testing Phase Budget Estimate: How much will it cost to complete the tests outlined in
QUESTION 10 and QUESTION 11 ? Please answer this question using the budget forms
below.
Note: For the testing please, Bloomberg Philanthropies will award Champion Cities up to
$100,000 to supporting a testing phase of —6 months. You should budget for only the amount
needed to implement the tests you have outlined in QUESTIONS 10 and 11.
Item
Costs
Sub -Contracting
Program Manager (100% of staff 1.0 FTE for 6 months' salary and
fringe) to provide oversight of program including project testing,
App development liaison, stakeholder outreach, enrollment of initial
child care facilities into program. $32,500/yr
App Developer Consultant to develop app and provide ongoing TA
and improvements through product testing phase. ($56,700)
Graphic Designer to develop initial branding for app. ($5,00)
$94,200
Travel
Reimbursement for Program Manager to travel to child care
facilities for enrollment (Approximately 5,500 miles at National
Mileage Reimbursement rate of $0.54/mile)
Supplies
Misc printing and office supplies to support testing phase (6 months
at $300/mo)
2 tablets to conduct app usability testing (2 at $300 each) and 2
remote access hotspots ($100) plus 3 months of hotspot service
($300)
$3,000
$1,800
$1,000
1
Total 1 $100,000
BUILD SUPPORT FOR YOUR IDEA
15. Alignment with Mayor or Chief Executive: How does this idea align with your Mayor or
Chief Executive's priorities? How will he or she actively champion this idea? (200 words)
Dubuque's mayor and city council meet annually to review the City's vision statement and
mission and to identify goals and priorities. This project is strategically aligned with the mayor
and city council's focus on equity as expressed in the mission statement they affirmed in August
2017, which states, "Dubuque's city government's mission is to...contribute to an equitable,
sustainable city and...facilitate access to critical human services." The idea also supports the
mayor and city council's goal of, "Partnership for a Better Dubuque: Building our community
that is viable, livable, and equitable." The lack of quality, affordable childcare is a matter of
equity and limits women's opportunities to participate in on-going, full-time work and it
contributes to the gender wage gap. Dubuque Mayor Roy D. Buol will actively champion this
project by: supporting City staff efforts related to the project, hosting a public presentation on the
project during a televised and streamed city council meeting, issuing a proclamation supporting
the project, promoting it during his monthly appearance on local radio, attend events associated
with the project, and he will participate in other efforts to create awareness of the project.
(188 words)
16. Ensuring Political Support: Is there an upcoming election in your city? If so, please list
the date of the election and if your current mayor is eligible for re❑ election and planning to
run. Please note any other anticipated transitions in leadership. Should there be a leadership
transition in your city, how will you ensure support through the transition? (300 words)
Mayor Roy D. Buol has served the City of Dubuque since 2005 and will run for re-election in
November 2017 uncontested, with the exception of one write-in candidate. City Manager Mike
Van Millegan has served the City since 1993 and professional staff will ensure consistent
leadership during potential political transitions. Mayor Buol launched the Sustainable Dubuque
initiative as a means to ensure economic competitiveness, setting a standard that many other
Cities have replicated. The Mayor has also set a culture of partnering with citizens and local
organizations and private business in order to make the deepest impacts. Under Mayor Buol's
tenure, the City has been recognized as "Best Small City to Raise a Family" in 2010 by Forbes
and "Most Livable Small City" by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 2017.
Dubuque was recently recognized as an All -America City awardee in 2017 for its efforts to
support early literacy improvements in children from low-income families through the Dubuque
Campaign for Grade -Level Reading. The project is indicative of the City's commitment to
supporting children's and family's needs and is representative of how Dubuque organizations
work together.
The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque is a long-standing City partner and has agreed
to be the lead facilitator of the Dubuque Cares About Kids project, supporting the testing phase,
1
stakeholder outreach, app development, implementation, partner education and advocacy
elements. The CFGD serves Dubuque not only as a grant -making entity, but has fostered or
participated in a number of local initiatives to include Every Child / Every Promise, Inclusive
Dubuque. Vision to Learn. Dubuque Campaign for Grade -Level Reading and Project HOPE.
Project HOPE is a joint endeavor launched in 2008 by the City and CFGD that has a goal to
expand economic opportunities and address the rising level of poverty in the community.
(298 words)
17. Engaging Your Community: How will you engage people, organizations, and resources
inside and outside of the municipal government to sustain your idea over time? (100 words)
Dubuque has an established track record of engaging its citizens, local organizations and
businesses in order to successfully develop and implement important community improvement
projects. Project HOPE, which commissioned the childcare needs assessment research that
serves as a foundation for this proposal, is headed into its 8th year of collaborating with 11
community, regional and state partners that have committed to ongoing efforts to work towards
their shared mission of improving economic opportunities for Dubuque's citizens. Additionally.
the City is investigating if the app can host advertising as a means to fund operations of the
initiative into the long -tern.
(99 words)
18. Resident Reflections: Share your idea with stakeholders or residents mho would be
impacted by the idea. What are three of the most interesting responses? (50 words for each
response)
Response One (50 words)
A local employer shared that many of their employees experience childcare issues and that there
is a great need for access to providers with drop-in capability when other child care falls through
and having more access to additional care providers that have space to balance out the already -
at -capacity care providers.
(50 words)
Response Two (50 words)
A local childcare center noted a concern about ensuring availability information was kept current
and that maintaining this information was not a burden to the provider. Other feedback included
that the app would reduce the number of calls about available spots and that it would help
providers fill spots efficiently.
(50 words)
Response Three (50 words
Parents recommended a wide array of provider information to include in the app and two
respondents noted a need for greater access to infant care providers. Parents found childcare in
the past by word of mouth, driving by the facility, an Internet search and recommendations from
other providers.
(48 words)
19. Demand for Your Idea: How do you know this problem is relevant to other cities? Talk to
at least two other cities that might be interested in taking up your idea once it's implemented
Do their responses provide anp insights into what would make your idea more transferable?
(200 words)
In outreach to other Cities, one City commented that the app would need to be comprehensive,
have accurate information and be appropriately targeted to ensure that its design, data and
outreach is truly reaching the parental audience that would need its support to find appropriate
care so they can participate in the workforce. Another suggestion by the same City in regard to
replicating the model would be for Dubuque to design a toolkit for the program that would
include how the project will be measured, national baseline data, editable survey templates, types
of community partner recommendations and guidance on implementation strategy. Key
considerations for this City to consider hosting a localized version of the Dubuque Cares About
Kids app would be how streamlined the onboarding process would be and what the vetting level
of information would require to ensure accuracy. The City also noted that it would first need to
locally document the need for the app. Another City was interested as well in the project and
recommended that outreach will be a critical component, no matter how small a city may be and
that including partner entities is important, as well as involving all types of childcare providers.
(199 words)