Founded in 2017 by Rick Jacobs (the former Executive Vice Mayor and Deputy Chief of Staff for Los Angeles) alongside Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Accelerator for America is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) working to scale and replicate local solutions to economic insecurity across the country. Accelerator for America supports initiatives that connect people with existing jobs, create new opportunities, and foster infrastructure development.

Accelerator for America is led by an Advisory Council consisting of major city mayors and leaders from the labor, business, and non-profit sectors. They are the R&D arm of cities and mayors – a do tank, not a think tank. Currently, their work is conducted in two specific verticals: Transit & Infrastructure and Economic Development. Accelerator for America provides cities with expert counsel, strategic grants, support critical polling and policy research, and makes connections among local and national leaders to increase the chances for success of implementing bold new initiatives in communities across America.

Accelerator for America is helping communities attract Opportunity Zone investments to benefit underserved communities and not just wealthy investors – including investments in affordable and mixed-income housing. They have partnered with 47 cities to date. Learn more here.