Local governments are sitting on a “gold mine” without realizing it. Just as a private individual or corporation uses assets (like machinery and buildings) to generate income, governments can generate income from their assets. Urban Wealth Funds (UWF) are assigned government assets with commercial value under unified, professional management who own and manage these assets for the betterment of the local community. UWFs have been used by governments in Europe and east Asia to generate billions of dollars to fund local infrastructure while maintaining public control of these local assets. A few local governments in North America have also begun to explore UWFs, as a complement to taxes as a source of revenues. At this session, you will have the opportunity to engage in a small group discussion with legal, financial, and other experts in the disciplines needed to put a UWF in place. 

Who Will Benefit: CFO/Finance Director or CEOs

• Learn what an Urban Wealth Fund is and how it can benefit local governments
• Learn the components of what it takes to put an urban wealth fund in place
• Discuss potential next steps for those that would like to explore an Urban Wealth Fund in more detail