economic opportunity
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Impact - July 2025
"The think tank quietly influencing NY’s top officials"On April 3, Crain's New York Business published an in-depth profile of the Center for an Urban Future (CUF), titled “The think tank quietly influencing New York’s top officials.” The article spotlights how CUF’s research has quietly but powerfully shaped policy initiatives and public investments over the years—from bolstering the tech and design sectors to increasing funding for libraries, supporting entrepreneurs, and expanding access to higher education.
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Impact - March 2025
CUF inspires City Council proposals to bolster minority businesses & support CUNY’s adult learnersDuring her 2025 State of the City address, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams announced four new policies directly inspired to boost support for the city's minority-owned businesses and adult learners at CUNY.
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Impact - September 2024
CUF called for a new university. Now one is coming.Earlier this year, the Center for an Urban Future argued that establishing a new top-flight undergraduate university in New York City should be a key part of efforts to keep the city competitive in the emerging post-pandemic economy. We were excited by Vanderbilt University’s announcement that it is planning to open a new campus in Chelsea—and thrilled to hear from university officials that our research contributed to their decision to expand.
Impact - July 2024
CUF Influences New York City’s FY2025 BudgetNew York City adopted its FY2025 budget, which includes includes several restorations and investments inspired by the Center for an Urban Future’s recent research and recommendations, including restoration of CUNY's budget and funding for key opportunity programs, establishing a human services-focused fellowship, restoring funding for adult literacy programs, including ESOL, and bolstering the capacity of CDFIs.
Impact - May 2024
CUF research sparks state policy changes to tuition assistance program (TAP)The state's FY 2025 budget formally authorizes the expansion of the tuition assistance program (TAP) to part-time students, which CUF has recommended for more than a decade. The state also increased income thresholds for TAP, which the Center has recommended in several publications over the years.
Data - May 2024
Preparing for the End of the Affordable Connectivity Program in New York CityFew places nationally have benefited from the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) as much as New York City. With full funding for the program expiring at the end of April, nearly one million households across the five boroughs are poised to lose this subsidy—with the most significant impact felt in the city’s lowest-income communities.
Impact - April 2024
CUF report inspires major new state investment in the artsNew York State's FY 2025 budget includes a $40 million increase in grantmaking funds for the New York State Council on the Arts and implementation of three new arts-and-culture programs. CUF's report on the creative economy in upstate New York put forward the very same proposals.
Impact - March 2024
CUF's research influences new workforce RFI to support New Yorkers with disabilitiesThe Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity announced a Request for Information (RFI) for a new initiative to “co-design and pilot new workforce development programs for New Yorkers with disabilities." This initiative was significantly influenced by the Center for an Urban Future’s research and various publications on New Yorkers with disabilities.
Impact - June 2023
DOT Expands Micromobility to Queens, Echoing CUF RecommendationsThe city’s Department of Transportation announced that the successful e-scooter sharing program piloted in the Bronx will expand to eastern Queens. CUF's recent commentary on expanding micromobility in all five boroughs called for the expansion of the Bronx e-scooter pilot to less transit-rich neighborhoods in Queens.
Impact - January 2023
CUF’s Research Helps to Spark Inclusion of CDFIs in NYC Small Business Opportunity FundIn January, Mayor Adams announced the launch of a $75 million Small Business Opportunity Fund, that will tap the city's nonprofit Community Development Financial Institutions as lending partners, mirroring the Center’s recommendations for the city to make CDFIs a key partner in efforts to strengthen under-resourced small businesses.
