Developed through extensive community engagement and cross-sector collaboration, the Blueprint reflects a clear commitment from Mayor Justin M. Bibb and his administration to treat financial empowerment as a core function of community development—and to ensure Cleveland’s economic progress includes every resident.
“As Cleveland grows, our responsibility is to make sure residents aren’t left behind,” said Mayor Bibb. “This Blueprint connects people to resources, strengthens housing stability, and sets us on a pathway for meaningful local changes that help Clevelanders build wealth.”
Through interviews with more than 130 Cleveland residents and collaboration with local nonprofit and academic partners, the Blueprint responds to persistent economic challenges facing households across all 15 wards, where poverty rates remain above the state average and racial wealth disparities are deeply entrenched.
The Blueprint advances two core missions:
Increasing Individual Financial Empowerment by expanding access to financial coaching, benefits enrollment, tax assistance, workforce pathways, and clear resource navigation—supported by stronger data-sharing and coordination across partners.
Managing Housing Costs and Preserving Wealth through improvements to home repair programs, efforts to address appraisal gaps, and targeted support for homeowners facing rising costs and deteriorating housing conditions.
As part of this work, the City will restructure its Bank Relations function into a comprehensive Office of Financial Empowerment, shifting from a compliance-driven model to a resident-centered service approach.
The Blueprint aligns with Mayor Bibb’s Cleveland ERA economic agenda and the City’s 2030 Housing Equity Plan, while building on partnerships with Cities for Financial Empowerment, Cuyahoga County, and a strong local ecosystem of nonprofits, funders, and policy institutions.
“For too long, financial support systems have been fragmented and difficult to navigate,” said Arin Miller-Tait, Director of the Department of Community Development. “This Blueprint brings alignment, connecting housing, workforce, and financial services into a clearer, more effective pathway for residents.”
The Financial Empowerment Blueprint will be released as an interactive, web-first report and neighborhood-based outreach to connect residents directly to services. Implementation will continue throughout 2026, with departments across City Hall integrating financial empowerment into their work.
About The Office of Financial Empowerment
The Office of Financial Empowerment increases access to tools, information, and resources that help all Clevelanders build stability, upward mobility, and wealth.
Office of Financial Empowerment | City of Cleveland Ohio
