Howard Co. Executive Ball Attends Gates Foundation-Led Program

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, along with the National Association of Counties, invited Howard County Executive Calvin Ball to participate in their new program "Economic Mobility Leadership Network." The initiative brings together 20 bipartisan leaders from across the country to explore the role counties can play to positively impact economic mobility.

So far, Ball has attended meetings, shared ideas and focused on best practices. The group of 20 leaders will descend upon Garrett County, Md., later this month. They have already joined forces in Multnomah County, Ore., and Hennepin County, Minn. These sites have been selected as demonstrating economic mobility in action. The goal of the program is for Ball and the other leaders to return to their respective counties "motivated to build awareness of the factors that influence economic mobility, dismantle stigmas to change the narrative around poverty, and develop local solutions that drive economic mobility upward."

“Our nation and our county are blessed with economic expansion and tremendous wealth, yet the American Dream is still out of reach for many families. I believe that local government has an important role to play in addressing that disparity and opening economic opportunity to all,” said Ball in a statement. “I am grateful and excited to be included in this select team of national leaders. I have enjoyed working with the National Association of Counties, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and my peers to bring economic solutions back to Howard County residents.”

Participating Counties

• Howard County, Maryland
• Palm Beach County, Florida
• Franklin County, Ohio
• Tarrant County, Texas
• Nassau County, New York
• Erie County, Pennsylvania
• Coconino County, Arizona
• Hennepin County, Minnesota
• Holmes County, Mississippi
• Fulton County, Georgia
• Bernalillo County, New Mexico
• Garrett County, Maryland
• Mobile County, Alabama
• Washington County, Virginia
• Waukesha County, Wisconsin
• Pinellas County, Florida
• Mercer County, West Virginia
• Loudon County, Virginia
• Santa Cruz County, Arizona
• Multnomah County, Oregon