From 1999 to 2005, G&A evaluated Oakland’s Community Development Block Grant Program (housing, economic development, public services).
In addition to evaluating between 40 to 80 CDBG-funded programs annually, G&A also conducted applied research into how other jurisdictions manage their CDBG process.
As a result of this applied research, the city has completely reformed its grant giving policies. Further, as evaluation results pointed to poor performance in the City’s Commercial Lending Program, the city contracted with G&A to conduct extensive research into how other jurisdictions achieved better results.
Through this process G&A conducted case studies of Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Portland to provide Oakland with models of more effective practice. Using G&A’s report as its guide, the City completely restructured its commercial lending practices over a two year period with technical assistance from G&A supporting that effort. This is an excellent example of how G&A integrates evaluation, research and coaching to help reform systems and how G&A predicates that reform on the exemplary practice in other, similar communities.
For a thorough summary of the CDBG process, a sampling of reports, and description of how this process has been used to reform the City’s governance, to identify high and low-performing programs, and to research and develop innovative, research-based strategies to improve City services, see Oakland Community Development Block Grant Program.
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