Attributes: Article

sustainability

Article

To achieve their sustainability goals, cities and counties must engage with key stakeholders

Local government leaders need to cast a wide net, says Laura Kroeger, technical director, leadership and management for the American Public Works Association (APWA). She also serves on the APWA Board of Directors, as chair of APWA’s strategic planning committee, and as executive director for the Mile High Flood District (Lakewood, Colo.). Kroeger urges agencies […]

sustainable

Article

City and county officials can find sustainable solutions at their feet

Dave Darche, a flooring industry expert at Bona, says flooring as well as flooring maintenance can be big parts of city-county sustainability efforts. “Remember your agency building’s flooring when thinking sustainably. Municipal facilities require clean, durable and slip-resistant floor surfaces to accommodate the large numbers of employees, visitors and other dignitaries passing through on a […]

citizens

Article

Digital government transformation needs to start with citizens

After experiencing a major flood or natural disaster, the last thing a citizen wants is difficulty filing a claim with FEMA. But that is what often happens. Unclear instructions, extraneous information and way too many steps can often cause citizens to have to do way too much to get way too little. And, it’s not […]

smart cities

Article

Improving the competitiveness of U.S. smart cities and counties

In my last article in this journal, “Building smart cities and counties with the Infrastructure Act,” I recommended that the funding available from the Infrastructure Act presented an opportunity for U.S. city and county jurisdictions to ramp up their smart city/smart county programs. At that time I noted that historically the U.S. lags far behind […]

economic development

Article

How to leverage public-private partnerships to drive economic development

A core part of every municipal leader’s job is the local economy: growing it, maintaining it and/or revitalizing it. Economic development is no easy task, even in the best of times. And right now, municipalities across the United States are facing several steep challenges: aging infrastructure, a national deficit that continues to increase and diminished […]

civil discourse

Article

How tech can make sure every voice is heard in civil discourse

The loudest voice in the room is the one that is heard. The person who can earn the attention of the greatest number of people holds the most power. And this is a serious problem for civil discourse. The loudest voice in a room is not always representative of the majority, and a single voice […]

Article

Think tank considers future governance of water amid continued impact of climate change

As the climate continues to be impacted by human development and ongoing management practices, industry experts predict that water and access rights will become “central to pivotal governance decisions, intractable social debates and climate initiatives,” according to the latest Water 2050 Governance Think Tank Report on governance from the American Water Works Association (AWWA). Between […]

infrastructure

Article

Local governments can choose from a variety of sources to fund infrastructure projects

Cities and counties have numerous infrastructure needs, such as implementing renewable energy systems, modernizing equipment and optimizing water utilities. But local government officials are facing challenges. A recent Johnson Controls survey of more than 100 local government officials shows the three biggest infrastructure funding obstacles for government leaders are competing budget priorities (52 percent), limited […]

accessibility

Article

Expanding accessibility: How local governments can digitize inclusively

Today, people use online channels to do almost everything, from shopping to receiving public health announcements. In this unstoppable path toward digital adoption, local governments must grapple with how they will meet their citizens’ changing needs, behaviors and expectations. With almost 1/3 of people worldwide viewing digital offerings as a top way governments can improve, […]

infrastructure

Article

The future looks bright for the EV market: A guide to navigating the Infrastructure and Inflation Reduction Acts

Both the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act offer many incentives for municipalities and individuals to invest in electronic vehicles (EV) and the underlying infrastructure. With sky-high oil pricing and growing climate concerns, the topic of EVs and related charging infrastructure are in the news. Let’s look at the opportunities these […]

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