Thursday, August 15, 2024 -  The Truman Center is pleased to announce our new report: Filling the Gap: An Innovation Fund to Support American Cities’ International Engagement. The report highlights the growing need for U.S. local governments to strengthen their capacity for diplomacy as they face global challenges ranging from new technology and immigration to climate change and geopolitical tensions.

American cities are increasingly using cross-border relations to drive regional growth, promote cultural exchange, and uphold democratic values. However, many U.S. cities, especially small and midsize ones, lack the resources and expertise to fully participate in global affairs.

Authored by Max Bouchet,  Truman’s Deputy Director for City & State Diplomacy, the report recommends establishing an Innovation Fund to address this gap.

The proposed fund would empower U.S. cities to:

• Launch international initiatives that foster global partnerships and economic growth;
• Build in-house expertise and capacity for managing global engagement;
• Train or hire dedicated staff to manage international relations.

By investing in city capacity and showcasing successful international engagements, this Fund will pave the way for sustained global participation across U.S. cities of all sizes.

“Now is the time for the philanthropic, public, and private sectors to join forces and support cities in seizing international opportunities,” said Bouchet. “Equipping American cities to tap international opportunity will accelerate innovation, create jobs, strengthen national security, and reduce economic disparities across the country.”

This report follows the recent launch of the Multilevel Diplomacy Map, a first-of-its-kind interactive tool visualizing more than 3,000 engagements between U.S. local governments and foreign partners.

Filling the Gap is available to the public here.