Inga Cushman, MPA, SHRM-SCP

Citizens want to contribute to their communities, but engagement must be productive. Explore how municipalities utilize a range of different engagement approaches as a means of gathering community insights and ideas to improve local government. #CommunityEngagement #PublicParticipation #LocalGov

3

Our Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation friends at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host learning sessions for local governments on redevelopment of underused and abandoned properties, otherwise known as brownfields, on Nov. 12 in City of Whitewater, Nov. 15 in City of Dodgeville, WI and Nov. 20 in City of Shawano. The sessions are free to attend and the same content will be covered in each location. A brownfield is a property where real or perceived contamination complicates expansion, redevelopment or reuse. Brownfields may be found in many locations throughout the state and vary in size, age and past use. The in-person sessions will share information about resources available to support local governments in redevelopment of properties into community assets. Participants will learn how to identify brownfield sites in their community and understand the liability considerations and due diligence recommended when acquiring brownfield properties. Highlights of the sessions include an overview of funding and other assistance available to support redevelopment efforts. https://lnkd.in/gfP5a_F5

16

Why are we implementing the Reverse Call for Proposals? You might be wondering, why does this initiative matter? How does it effectively address local needs and drive community-led development? In today’s Newsflash, we have the answers to these important questions. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dWxB2bmS #ReverseCallforProposals

16

2024 FRA Award Winner - Annual Report - Small City City of Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency - Palmetto CRA 2023 Annual Report "Palmetto CRA’s new and improved Annual Report is more readable, informative, and marketable than its predecessor. With information being broken up into digestible blocks and by numerous pictures, this user-friendly report reads more like a magazine than a standard, dry report. And rather than just a high-level overview, we now go into further detail on what the CRA is, describe our accomplishments, and highlight favorite projects. We still give great data and analysis, but now it is more accessible to those who did not know about the CRA prior to picking up the report. It also looks darn good." About the FRA Roy F. Kenzie Awards Program: The Florida Redevelopment Association Awards program recognizes the best in redevelopment in Florida. It is open to any member of the Association. To recognize the projects and people involved in redevelopment throughout the state, three awards series have been established. The Roy F. Kenzie and Thomas J. Mills Awards are given for outstanding examples of redevelopment and leadership, respectively, in Florida. Additionally, the President’s Award is given for the “Best of the Best,” to honor the top project across all categories. A winning entry acknowledges excellence in an organization’s work. Within 13 juried categories, the Roy F. Kenzie Awards celebrate the most innovative and effective redevelopment programs in Florida. Winners demonstrate innovation and a positive impact on their communities and inspire other Florida communities. https://lnkd.in/ed3VEXvd #RedevelopmentWorks #Redevelopment #FloridaRedevelopment #MyFRA #FLRedevelopment #CityofPalmettto #PalmettoCRA

1

1 Comment

When it comes to community development services, the plan review process is a crucial step that often becomes a bottleneck. Traditional methods of submission and review have historically been fraught with errors, delays, and frustration — both for local agencies and applicants.   As city halls across the country focus on enhancing the citizen experience, many are turning to electronic plan review with submission check to better manage these processes and ensure a smooth application process.   In this recent blog post, we explore how technology is serving as a safeguard against common errors to streamline the submission process. Read more: https://hubs.la/Q02NSt9J0 #GovTech #DigitalTransformation #ePlan

7

📰 Rebuild Local News, a nonpartisan nonprofit coalition, launched in 2020 to address the catastrophic collapse of local news. Its solution to the problem: public policy. “The severity—and the speed—of the collapse of local news is so immense, and the threat to communities and democracy is so severe, that we need a multipronged approach to solving it,” warns Rebuild Local News president Steven Waldman. The group proposes legislative and policy solutions like tax credits and subsidies to address the rapidly accelerating disappearance of local news outlets that are “simple, smart, nonpartisan, and First Amendment friendly.” Learn more about the organization’s work to reverse the rapid decline of local journalism 👉 https://lnkd.in/gDMmba3t Report for America #localnews #nonprofits

12

1 Comment

Curious about how the City performs? Check out the inaugural City of Bethany Annual Report. This document will give citizens an in-depth guide to how the city works and what we accopmplished in fiscal year 2022-2023. ​ https://lnkd.in/gtyRrTPf

5

Together, we continue to make a difference.   Results are in from the latest Statewide Landcover and Tree Study and data shows a 64% reduction in regulated clearing over the last four years. We also found a 7% decrease in overall clearing activity across the State compared to the previous year and a 13% decrease in clearing activity in Great Barrier Reef catchments.   This is a great outcome for biodiversity and the reduction of carbon emissions in Queensland. It also reflects how well landholders are managing their land under the Vegetation Management Framework.   We use satellite imagery to monitor and report on Queensland's woody vegetation. Learn more and view the report here👉 https://lnkd.in/giDEszDZ

36

3 Comments

Community Involvement in Policy Making - One of the best parts of working in local government is hearing directly from residents about what matters most to them. Their insights guide our decisions, from infrastructure improvements to new public programs. But engagement doesn’t just happen—it requires deliberate efforts to reach out and involve the community. A piece from Harvard Business Review recently explored how involving citizens early in the policy-making process can lead to better service delivery outcomes. We’ve been working hard to create more opportunities for residents to share their thoughts, whether through resident and business surveys, townhalls, or digital feedback platforms. After all, our city is strongest when our operations reflect the voices and needs of those who live here. #CommunityEngagement #PolicyMaking" https://lnkd.in/gCFPDTXR

3

Municipal Communicators hold an important role in municipal elections, now more than maybe ever before. In addition to making sure residents know where and how to vote, there are things that need to be communicated directly from municipalities. Raise the level of discourse through intentional communications surrounding topics such as: 🙌 What does (and can) local government actually do 🙌 What council can – and can't – do in their governance role We've seen both of these fall apart in a slew of misinformation/disinformation, and through uninformed campaign rhetoric. We can't control what candidates say, nor do we want to. But we can, and should, communicate the facts of what local government is all about! Check out the latest post in our Member News & Information section in the private Members Portal to explore how to do this effectively, including examples of successful approaches taken by Canadian municipalities that can be adopted in your community. In the future, we'll also be hosting networking sessions for same-province members who are approaching a municipal election, to discuss challenges and opportunities. Together, we can do more 🙌 ----- 🙋‍♀️ Want to see this valuable info but you're not a member yet? 🙋‍♂️ Our resources, tools, professional development, and more are available to registered CAMC members only. Make sure you don't miss out by registering today! If you're a Municipal Communicator, by title or by function, and you're interested in growing through professional development, networking, resources sharing, and much more, check us out at www.thecamc.ca #localgovernment #localgov #communications

9

🌟 Save the date: October is National Community Planning Month – a time to recognize the transformative power of thoughtful planning in shaping Iowa’s communities! Throughout next month, we’ll be highlighting inspiring stories, insights from local planners, and practical tips on how intentional planning fosters vibrant, resilient communities across the state. 💬 What aspect of community planning do you think has the biggest impact where you live? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! Let’s celebrate the role planning plays in creating thriving places to live, work, and grow. #PlanIowa #PlanningMonth #CommunityDevelopment #ResilientCommunities

22

Looking for support on where to start when it comes to reporting your utility data? Join us on Tuesday, May 21 from 12pm-1pm for a Benchmarking Webinar. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eCYxZtSn To learn more, visit: detroitmi.gov/benchmarking #EnergyBenchmarking #SustainableDetroit  #DetroitSustainability #CityofDetroit #Sustainability #ClimateAction 

3

What is the value of values? Think Local Act Personal (TLAP)’s great report ‘“Values and the Workforce: The Expectations of People with Lived Experience" highlights the core values that matter most—respect, honesty, and compassion- and we had some thoughts. https://lnkd.in/eiUMv66C

12

4 Comments

Happy National Apprenticeship Week!!! Learn more about the Wisconsin Apprenticeship model below in partnership with the good folks at Building Advantage !!! #10yearsofNAW #apprenticeshipworks

18

There are three elements that we as humans cannot live without...oxygen, healthy food, and clean safe drinking water! It's imperative that we continue to make these infrastructure investments.

3

We have a couple of spots left if you would still like to register! April 18: Citizen Assemblies- Reinvigorating Civic Engagement Note: This is a morning forum, 8:30am. Join us for a discussion that will open up the idea of citizen involvement in local decision-making. Increasingly people on all sides of the political spectrum (including those unengaged) feel left out of how decisions are made. A Citizens’ Assembly is a group of people selected by lottery who are broadly representative of a community. They spend significant time learning and collaborating through facilitated deliberation to find common ground and form collective recommendations for policymakers, decision-makers, and the community. These Assemblies are sometimes called Citizens’ Juries, Panels, or Councils depending on their size and the country where they are taking place. We will discuss how this model works internationally and how it is currently being used right here in Central Oregon. More info: https://lnkd.in/gSYnjqRi

1

Tune in to "Make the Leap," where our very own Kelsey Fox, Director of Housing & Community Solutions, explores the topic of housing insecurity. #delawarecountyohio #delawareohio #housinginsecurity Housing Insecurity and Homelessness: Changing The Narrative (buzzsprout.com)

6