PHILADELPHIA – City officials celebrated today the transformative impact of the Operations Transformation Fund (OTF) which finances innovative projects within City government, with a focus on improving government efficiency and accessibility. As the funding cycle ends, the selected 29 project teams displayed the impact of their work at the OTF Project Showcase at the Parkway Central Free Library.
In 2021 the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) launched the OTF to invest nearly $10 million to underwrite the upfront costs of departmental efforts to reimagine and transform City processes to better serve Philadelphia residents. Project teams have received ongoing administrative support and tracked their progress monthly on the public-facing OTF Project Dashboard.
“The Operations Transformation Fund was created as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic when City employees were under immense pressure to provide services to residents, despite the challenges,“ said Mayor Jim Kenney. “This is a bold investment in City employees and departments to be creative and solution-focused, and the outcomes speak for themselves.”
“The Operations Transformation Fund gave City employees and departments an opportunity to reimagine government processes. Through collaboration, technical assistance from the Office of the CAO, and technology we were able to provide accessible and creative solutions to our challenges,” said Chief Administrative Officer Stephanie Tipton. “Projects like the Centralized Landlord Network and the Phila.gov Translations Services Expansion were made possible through this fund. Their impacts will be felt far beyond this administration and continue to improve the lives of many City residents.”
The OTF Project Showcase event featured remarks from City officials and 29 project teams sharing their impact publicly through visual displays. This was an opportunity for media, residents, and City employees to fully grasp the transformative power of the OTF.
“We decided to host the OTF Project Showcase as a unique opportunity for City employees to connect with each other and other departments, as well as celebrate the outcomes and progress of their initiatives,” stated Operations Transformation Fund Program Officer Hannah Louie. “The collaborative nature of the OTF is one of its many benefits and we want to uplift the progress and partnerships made possible by the fund.”
The Operations Transformation Fund funding cycle ends on June 30, 2023 and a full Impact Report will be published later this year. In the meantime, project updates and data can be found on the Project Dashboard and all progress reports are published here.