Article The new normal: How state and local governments can benefit from virtual desktop-as-a-service to support remote workforce 23rd November 2021 The COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone into uncharted territory practically overnight. Government offices that were bustling with people one day were silent the next as workers shifted to remote working environments. This shift put a strain on technology teams, who suddenly had to deal with securing and scaling a workforce spread across multiple remote locations that […]
Commentary Making the technical personal: How fiber is changing communities 22nd November 2021 The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides communities around the nation a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage their share of the $42.5 billion allocated for broadband infrastructure. The pandemic shifted broadband from being used for entertainment to now being mission critical for work-from-home, online schooling, remote healthcare and numerous other applications and services. […]
Article Infrastructure bill paves path for expanded use of project labor agreements, more equity in the building trades 22nd November 2021 On November 15, 2021, President Joe Biden delivered on a key part of his domestic agenda when he signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a $1.2 trillion infrastructure and jobs bill. In so doing, President Biden also fulfilled a major campaign promise to the building and construction trades unions that his administration […]
Article How local government agencies can protect communities from severe weather 16th November 2021 A record number of heat waves scorched the U.S. this past summer, and recent reports show that weather occurrences are only getting worse. Longer and more frequent severe weather, such as heat waves, major hurricanes, wildfires and heavy snowstorms, bring harsh consequences, including power outages, illness and even death. Natural disasters caused nearly $100 billion […]
Commentary The Great Resignation in tech: Can great apprenticeships help? 16th November 2021 This is written as the celebration of National Apprenticeship Week commences on November 15th. Before we delve into the state of apprenticeship programs and its significance to today’s tech talent crisis—let’s look at the problem before the opportunity. The pandemic certainly caused many employees in all industries and professions an opportunity to re-access their work-life […]
Commentary Mainframe training and development are helping local governments fill their IT ranks 10th November 2021 For years, state and local governments have been trying to keep pace with a supercharged demand for more IT personnel. Given how pivotal the mainframe is to the ability of many state governments to carry out their missions, it’s not surprising that workers with mainframe skills are high on their lists. Adding to the urgency, […]
Commentary End of the line for lead pipes? Let’s make it happen 9th November 2021 With the passing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill (H.R. 3684: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), we now have an incredible opportunity in front of us to make millions of toxic lead water pipes in this country a thing of the past. The infrastructure bill passed on Friday is a great start to getting rid of […]
Commentary An action plan for instituting community change 8th November 2021 Political division, misinformation and outright hostility have characterized this past year. Throughout this conflict, many people stopped communicating with each other. Over time, they have lost trust in their leaders, institutions, neighbors and even family members. A factor driving this loss of trust? Government. In the recent Edelman Trust Barometer report, respondents perceived government institutions […]
Commentary American Rescue Plan Act funding guidance for local governments: What states, cities and counties should consider 3rd November 2021 The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was created in response to COVID-19 to provide more than $350 billion to state, local, territorial and Tribal governments in efforts to rescue the American economy and support communities struggling in the wake of the pandemic. The emergency funding was designed specifically to help keep front line public workers […]
Article Cybersecurity resilience begins with strategy and collaboration 3rd November 2021 From ransomware attacks on school systems and hospitals to threats on critical infrastructure, state and local government (SLG) IT leaders are under immense pressure. Ransomware attacks have sadly become an unwelcome norm—and governments are still having difficulty staying ahead of bad actors. Seventy-five percent of state and local governments experienced a breach or potential compromise […]
Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina 13th October 2020