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Little Rock gains What Works Cities silver certification for data use, chief data officer says
Summary
Chief Data Officer Marquise Willis announced Little Rock has achieved silver certification from What Works Cities, a Bloomberg Philanthropies program recognizing municipal data and evidence practices.
Little Rock has earned silver certification from What Works Cities, the city97s chief data officer announced during the March 18, 2025, Board of Directors meeting.
Marquise Willis told directors the designation recognizes municipal uses of data "to inform policy decisions, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate the efficacy of programs, and engage residents." Willis said the city launched its first data portal in February 2016 and cited the city's Rockfolio performance portfolio and the use of data during the March 31, 2023, EF-3 tornado response as examples of data-driven practice.
Willis said the award places Little Rock alongside larger peer cities, calling it "the epitome of a team award" and praising department directors and data coordinators for operational work. He said the city's approach showed how data investments can "lead to tangible and equitable outcomes for all residents." Mayor Frank Scott and city officials joined in recognition of the staff effort.
The announcement noted Little Rock is a member of the Bloomberg City Data Alliance and that city leaders plan to continue expanding data and evidence practices to improve transparency and performance.
No board action was required for the announcement.
