A ranking of the 10 most civic-minded companies holds some surprises -- mainly that the list is dominated by financial services firms.
"International companies are contributing to the betterment of the cities in which they do business, focusing on programs geared to improving health, sustainability, transportation, education, and even urban planning in metro areas," writes Mary Jander.
"It's vital to stay local. While many big corporate donors also support broader causes, the value of visible giving in a city where business is important not only builds revenue, it attracts employees and builds political equity within the community. Improving the home city means improving the business conducted there."
"So which firms stand out in civic giving?... In some cases, the firms are surprising sources of urban improvement. Who would associate some of the most disgraced financial companies on Wall Street (or Bay Street) to provide some of the most effective help for inner city education?"
FULL STORY: Top 10 Civic-Minded Companies

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.

Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.

Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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