Article Anatomy of a high-functioning strategic plan for city success 16th January 2024 As cities adapt to meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations and to reflect the ever-changing dynamics of our economy and political environment, the demand for well-structured, forward thinking strategic planning is more pronounced than ever. A high-functioning strategic plan is a framework that transcends routine operations and charts a course towards transformation and positive […]
Article How public-private partnerships are fueling growth in Orlando 3rd November 2023 The city of Orlando is the center of a growing, thriving metropolis that is home to more than two million residents. While theme parks and resorts attract tourists from across the globe and help fuel the economy, another growth engine in the form of public-private partnerships is strengthening economic development opportunities and improving the quality […]
Article How coastal cities can prioritize and invest in climate resilience 27th October 2023 The city of Virginia Beach, Va., has faced numerous climate challenges from hurricanes to sunny day flooding, and most recently the April 30, 2023 tornado impacting residents in the Great Neck neighborhood located in the northern part of the city. Anticipating a sea level rise between one and three feet in the not-so-distant future, Virginia […]
Article Dam engineering on a deadline: When Leominster, Mass. was inundated by an epic rainfall event 26th October 2023 Engineers who design, inspect, and plan repairs and upgrades of the more than 80,000 dams across the United States usually are thinking in timeframes of years—how long it will take to design and permit and complete projects? And of the decades or even centuries dams need to be counted on to last. Every once in […]
Article How governments can help older adults age in place during a housing crisis 29th September 2023 As a shortage of 6.5 million homes confronts the nation, the population of the U.S. skews increasingly older. The lack of affordable housing, compounded with the growing population of Americans over age 65, means that older adults who desire to age in place are finding it much more difficult to stay in their communities. The […]
Article Adding resilience to roads without reconstruction 26th September 2023 In Vermont this summer, torrential rains caused flooding of historic proportions, washing out roads or covering them in feet of mud. And in some coastal areas, sea level rise is making ‘sunny-day’ flooding a twice-monthly occurrence when the moon’s cycles pull tides higher. Often, the hardest hit areas during such extreme weather events are communities’ […]
Commentary How state governments can help revitalize workforce development 19th September 2023 Siloed and disjointed workforce development ecosystems can’t keep up with the dynamic needs of today’s economy. Isolated departments across government, business, nonprofits and academia are sometimes too slow to adapt to new workforce needs or to adjust to new technologies—resulting in significant skills gaps and talent shortages. To keep pace, state agencies across the country […]
Commentary Getting ahead of natural disasters: Field-tested planning best practices from San Mateo and Santa Cruz 18th August 2023 Over 16 days at the beginning of this year, a state of emergency was declared in 51 of California’s 58 counties due to atmospheric rivers and winter storms. From storm surges, mudslides, downed trees, heavy snow, avalanches, power outages and road closures, to river and tributary floods, potential dam spills, as well as urban, residential, […]
Article Before the storm: Using data to predict and manage climate risk 18th July 2023 In the first five months of 2023 alone, the United States experienced 11 climate disaster events with confirmed losses of over $1 billion each. With June’s severe weather in the south, that number climbed to 12. Last year, there were 18 such disasters, costing more than $175 billion and 474 lives. Business and government leaders […]
Commentary Five attributes every government agency needs from a successful partner 30th June 2023 The COVID-19 pandemic changed how state and local governments work with outside partners to support government benefits programs. The pandemic brought new challenges and increased demand for services. State and local government leaders had to re-evaluate the role private companies could play. These leaders were able to understand which partners were best suited to help […]
Solutions for Local Government Communicators Tasked with Facilitating Micro-to-Macro Resident Communications 22nd February 2024
Get in the Driver’s Seat: 7 Ways Your Lack of Control is Blocking Your High-Performance Potential 26th January 2024
Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina 13th October 2020