United States
Vi Lyles
859,035 (2017)
Jeff Stovall
Improve resident outcomes
Improve service delivery
Anticipate and manage future challenges
Dedicated innovation team
Leadership from Mayor
Culture of innovation in city
Support from outside city administration
Note: The City Innovation Snapshot (PDF version) was produced in 2019 and some aggregate findings have been updated with the latest survey results below.
Along with 50% of cities surveyed, Charlotte does not have an explicit innovation strategy. Similar to more than half of cities surveyed, Charlotte approaches innovation capacity both from a holistic/macro level, as well as in specific policy areas.
As an independent body, Charlotte’s innovation work is led by the Chief Innovation Officer who manages around 150 staff in charge of innovative and operational duties.
Taking risks or testing new ideas
Data-driven analytics/public data management
Engaging residents in new ways
Developing new solutions based on digital technologies
Organizational change within the municipality
Human-centered design
Rethinking your city’s approach to financing partnerships
Its innovation activities also include promoting data-driven analytics and developing new solutions based on digital technologies.
Like 19% of cities surveyed, Charlotte does not have dedicated funding to support innovation capacity.
Charlotte has no reported sources of funding.
Charlotte does not fund any specific activities.
Charlotte does not explicitly fund any particular activities.
Charlotte has developed partnerships to promote its innovation capacity with other public agencies, private firms, not-for-profit organizations, and city residents/resident associations.
To improve data use, the city has also developed data partnerships with the private sector, academia, and think tanks to collect and analyze data.