NGIN Honors Mayor Justin M. Bibb with National Award for Advancing Cleveland’s Economic Transformation

Cleveland, OH — June 10, 2026 — Cleveland’s visionary leadership in economic innovation took center stage as Mayor Justin M. Bibb was honored with the Luminary Award for Economic Excellence by New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN), a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing innovative approaches to economic development.

Mayor Bibb was recognized during the opening session of LEAP (Learn. Explore. Activate. In Place.), a national convening spotlighting economic innovation in Small and Midsized Cities, on June 10 at 9:00 AM.

His exemplary efforts ranged from expanding worker-owned cooperatives and driving reinvestment in legacy neighborhoods to tackling housing affordability and reimagining lakefront development as a catalyst for broader city renewal. These initiatives built on the nationally recognized “Cleveland Model,” which emphasized community wealth-building, cross-sector partnerships, and lifting up areas long left out of traditional growth efforts.

During the session, Mayor Justin M. Bibb spoke candidly to delegates about his personal journey to becoming mayor, sharing both the challenges and triumphs he encountered while in office. He emphasized the importance of their work, highlighting how innovative, community-centered economic strategies are essential to building resilient cities where all residents can thrive.

The event, held at ThirdSpace Action Lab, welcomed a distinguished delegation of leaders from Kalamazoo, MI; Omaha, NE; Waco, TX; Jackson, MS; Grand Junction, CO; and Boise, ID—each selected through a highly competitive process to participate in LEAP.

Following the ceremony, LEAP delegates spent five days in Cleveland participating in site visits, workshops, and peer dialogue to see how the City of Cleveland was creating more resilient, opportunity-rich economies that reflected the needs and aspirations of all residents.

It was a proud moment for the city, and a sign that the nation took notice of its innovative, homegrown solutions.

About Learn. Explore. Activate in Place. (LEAP)

LEAP is an immersive trip for economic and community leaders to engage in workshops, activities, and networking to see firsthand how smaller cities (up to 500,000 residents) are driving innovation and creating economic opportunities for all. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this program is part of NGIN's Small and Midsized Cities Hub—an initiative that offers a suite of programs, technical assistance, resources, and tools to support economic developers build healthy, thriving communities. 

About New Growth Innovation Network:

New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN) is a national nonprofit that equips economic, community, and government leaders with insights, innovations, capital, and localized support to ensure that economically excluded communities can lead, shape, and benefit from regional economic growth. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NGIN’s LEAP program is part of NGIN's Small and Midsized Cities Hub—an initiative that offers a suite of programs, technical assistance, resources, and tools to support economic developers build healthy, thriving communities.