IRVING, Texas - The City of Irving has been awarded Gold Certification through the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities program, a national and international benchmark recognizing cities that excel in using data to guide decisions, improve services, and engage residents.
The certification, administered by Results for America and supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities, honors municipalities that meet rigorous standards for data governance. Irving advanced to the Gold level after meeting between 68% and 84% of the program’s 43 evaluation criteria. Since the program’s launch in 2017, just over 100 cities across North, Central, and South America have achieved certification.
“Earning the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Gold Certification is a powerful reflection of our city’s commitment to accountability and transparency,” said Rick Stopfer. “Our employees are showing how evidence-based decision-making can make government more responsive and connected to the people we serve.”
City officials said the designation reflects Irving’s long-term investment in systems that track performance, guide spending decisions, and evaluate program outcomes. City Manager Chris Hillman said the certification underscores how data is being used not just to measure results, but to drive improvements across departments.
“By building systems that track outcomes, share insights, and guide decisions, we’re ensuring the services residents rely on are efficient, effective, and continually improving,” Hillman said.
One highlighted example is Irving’s Innovation Grants Program, which allows city employees to propose and test new ideas aimed at improving operations and service delivery. Since 2016, the city has invested $520,000 in employee-led projects. Officials said those initiatives have shortened the city’s budget book production timeline by 30 days and created an in-house storm pipe inspection program that saved more than $200,000 while completing over 50 repairs.
Rochelle Haynes, managing director of Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities, said Irving’s achievement reflects a broader commitment to modern governance. “These cities are delivering real results for residents while building sustainable practices for a more resilient future,” Haynes said.
City leaders said the Gold Certification positions Irving among a select group of municipalities recognized for turning data into measurable outcomes for residents.
