Prefeitura Municipal de Curitiba
The Pitch
Curitiba City Hall (Prefeitura Municipal de Curitiba) implemented an economic recovery plan that invested in public works and social support programs during the COVID-19 crisis. This created local jobs and kept businesses afloat.
The Problem
The COVID-19 pandemic harmed Curitiba’s businesses, put people out of work and created widespread food insecurity.
The Process
- Created the Curitiba Economic Recovery Plan to help people and businesses recover from the pandemic
- Based business recovery plans on a survey sent to business owners and tailored them to their needs
- Approved a Municipal Budget and Pluriannual Plan to increase investments in public works, directing funds toward building bus lines and developing and greening the Novo Caximba neighborhood
- Developed the Buy in the Neighborhood program to encourage consumers to purchase locally produced goods and patronize stores near their homes
- Provided workshops and tools that helped businesses adapt to the impacts of the pandemic
- Broadened food security programs to reach all regions of the city
- Expanded the capacity of the Single Registry, a government system that provides access to social benefits, to more families in need
The Impact
- Registered 21,472 new people for social benefits and updated 22,325 existing registrations by expanding the Single Registry’s capacity
- Increased the number of community-run urban gardens and farms in Curitiba to 106—providing residents with green jobs, access to healthy foods and the opportunity to generate income from selling produce to community members
- Created 113,000 jobs (both directly and indirectly) for residents through increased business support and investments in public works, helping residents maintain livelihoods throughout and after the COVID-19 crisis
- Stimulated local commerce, supported local artisans and farmers, and boosted the city’s socioeconomic development through the Buy in the Neighborhood program
