Leaders in What Works Cities Certified cities believe in a simple truth: When local governments invest in citywide data practices they’re building stronger communities. They also understand that building strong data practices isn’t a temporary initiative with What Works Cities Certification as the end goal. Improving city halls’ data capacity is an ongoing journey.
One way that What Works Cities recognizes the evolution of data practices is by awarding Certification at three levels: Silver, Gold and Platinum. Achieving Certification at any of these levels signifies that a city is among the very best at using data and evidence to improve the lives of residents. Yet what truly makes cities the best at using data is when they always strive to raise the bar.
As we mark a milestone of more than 100 Certified cities, we’re proud to support four cities that deepened their commitment to data, met more criteria in the WWC Standard, and leveled up from Silver Certification to Gold Certification.
Here are data highlights from the four newly Gold cities:
- Boulder, Colorado, is preventing eviction. Boulder’s Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Services program helps residents resolve eviction-related housing issues through legal services, rental assistance and mediation. In 2024 the City evaluated eviction outcomes when city services were provided compared to when no services were provided. Through tracking this data, the City found that services provided led to a 96% eviction prevention rate for active participants, compared to a 58% eviction prevention rate for non-participants. In 2024, guided by their evaluation and community feedback that housing stability was a top issue, the City allocated an additional $253,000 for the program for FY25.
- Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil, is boosting transparency and open data. Since becoming one of the first cities in Latin America to achieve Certification in 2023, Mogi das Cruzes has worked hard to become a more transparent government. The City launched its first Open Government Action Plan, which includes 12 steps to improve information accessibility. They also introduced a comprehensive Transparency Portal, which features open data, public works updates, and up-to-date budget information. Finally, the City offers free online training for both government employees and residents on open government principles. These efforts go beyond policies on paper, they actively build trust with residents, promote accountability and encourage community engagement.
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, cut serious worker injuries by over 70% in the Department of Public Works (DPW) by introducing a Real-Time Safety System (RTSS) to share worker safety issues and introduce root-cause problem solving among leaders and front-line workers. Pittsburgh set a goal of a 30% annual decrease in its DART rate, injury incidents that lead to days away, restricted, and transferred, per 100 employees. Using the RTSS, DPW saw a 73% decrease by the end of 2024 – from 30.0 to 11.5 incidents. A program evaluation found that DPW’s early adoption of RTSS showed a statistically significant decrease in DART with a before-and-after comparison to all other departments across the city. Introducing RTSS helped front-line workers remain on the job – 2022 saw the lowest lost-time injuries in a year in the past 15+ years – since the City began measuring. This focus on a culture of safety resulted in an overall 33% decrease in DART – from 11.7 to 8.2 incidents by the end of 2024, marking a better workplace for all City workers.
- Rochester, New York, is making transportation work better for everyone. One out of every four households in Rochester does not have a car and relies on walking, biking and public transportation for daily travel. In 2023, the City used geographic and demographic data to develop an Active Transportation Plan to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders. In 2024 the City began connecting 60 miles of bike paths to increase accessibility for residents, and the data-backed plan was awarded a federal Safe Streets for All grant for $23.7 million. Furthermore, Rochester continues its commitment to leveraging disaggregated data, through its first Disaggregated Data Standard with What Work Cities’s support.
A lot has changed since Certification launched nearly a decade ago. Best practices have evolved, new technologies have emerged, and residents have greater and greater expectations for government. By achieving a higher level of Certification, Boulder, Mogi das Cruzes, Pittsburgh and Rochester prove they aren’t just adapting to change, they are proactively shaping what it means to be a data-driven city in 2025.
