We're strengthening communities with accessible public options.
Public Options
Lack of access to essential services like banking, healthcare, and food leaves communities vulnerable and limits economic opportunity for residents and businesses alike, causing reverberating negative economic impacts. HR&A empowers our clients to address these critical gaps in social and economic wellbeing by helping build public options, from designing initial concepts to inevitability. We conduct rigorous feasibility and market studies and stakeholder and community engagement to build the case for public options, and then guide municipalities and states through complex implementation processes to deliver solutions that are built around the communities they seek to serve. Our work fills market gaps in public banking, grocery stores, and other essential services, delivering universal access to what people need to thrive every day.
At 27, County Judge Lina Hidalgo made history as the youngest and first Latina to lead Harris County, Texas—home to 4.7 million residents. HR&A supported her groundbreaking transition by building her leadership team, establishing policy frameworks, and launching Talking Transition, which engaged over 11,000 residents in defining priorities for her first 100 days.
We Work with
Projects
HR&A conducted comprehensive economic impact analysis for the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department, demonstrating that the city's 382 parks and 145 miles of trails generate a seven-to-one return on public investment. Our analysis of community benefits including job growth, health impacts, and resiliency, along with development of a visitor count methodology, provided the foundation for a successful $262 million bond proposal that gained overwhelming voter approval in 2017.
HR&A guided the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in developing and implementing a comprehensive innovation district strategy that bridges research capabilities with industry collaboration. We delivered a strategic roadmap with clear governance structures, partnership frameworks, and phased real estate development priorities that position MUSC to accelerate healthcare innovation while generating significant economic impact for the Charleston region.
In response to input from residents, affordable housing advocates and developers, the City of New Haven engaged HR&A to develop an inclusionary zoning policy that ensures long-term affordability, inclusive growth, and thriving neighborhoods. Over 50 affordable homes have been approved since the ordinance’s approval in 2022.
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