July, 2024

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Urban Farms Are a Lifeline For Food-Insecure Residents. Will New Jersey Finally Take Them Seriously?

Next City

No water. Pricey permits. Urban farms in Essex County, New Jersey are calling on local governments and the state to make long-term investments in combating food insecurity.

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Why agents are the next frontier of generative AI

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

By moving from information to action—think virtual coworkers able to complete complex workflows—the technology promises a new wave of productivity and innovation.

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Ransomware Attacks Require Improved Information Sharing

FedTech Magazine

Government needs broad visibility into the activity of bad actors to fight ransomware. A lack of robust information sharing can lead to “a murky information environment, making it difficult for governments and industry to work together to combat ransomware at scale,” according to a report from the Institute for Security and Technology released in April.

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AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance expands to Texas

AWS Public Sector Blog

The tech industry in the state of Texas is booming, with a growing demand for skilled workers in cloud, information technology (IT), software development, and data analytics roles. According to the Dallas Federal Reserve, high tech represents almost 5 percent of Texas’ gross domestic product (GDP) and more than 9 percent of employment. The tech sector in Texas has added jobs at an average annual rate of 4.7 percent over the last decade, more than double the overall state job growth rate.

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Key Strategies for Public Works Employees to Embrace Government Software

In a rapidly evolving landscape, the integration of digital software into Public Works teams has become imperative. This shift presents an opportunity to transcend traditional approaches, unlocking new levels of efficiency, cost savings, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This eBook offers comprehensive strategies to navigate this transformation.

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2023-2024 Supreme Court Term Roundup: Decisions Important to Local Government

NLC (National League of Cities)

In their 2023-2024 term, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued decisions that directly impact local governments on issues including the constitutionality of collecting impact fees, local authority to make regulations on the matter of homelessness, Title VII employment issues and public officials’ usage of social media.

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Massachusetts Helps Municipalities Strengthen Their Cybersecurity Posture

State Tech Magazine

The initial inspiration for creating the Massachusetts Municipal Cybersecurity Summit in 2021 — to encourage cities and towns to work together on cybersecurity prevention — remains a focus for the MassCyberCenter, says Director John Petrozzelli. “This was a way of getting people together to share business cards and ideas — almost crowdsourcing across the state — so the first time an incident happens, you already know people,” he says.

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McKinsey technology trends outlook 2024

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Which technology trends matter most for companies in 2024? New analysis by the McKinsey Technology Council highlights the adoption, development, and industry effects of advanced technologies.

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Cyber Hygiene Fixes for the Overconfident Agency

FedTech Magazine

There exists a major disconnect between the trust most agencies put in their current cybersecurity strategies and their actual ability to defend themselves. While 88 percent of global IT and security leaders feel confident in their organizations’ ability to manage cyber risk, 51 percent report that more than half of their cyber incidents were due to poor cyber hygiene, according to an April study from ExtraHop.

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For Disability Pride Month—We Highlight Our Work on College Campus Access Issues

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

The percentage of college students with disabilities has nearly doubled during the last two decades—with as many as 21% reporting a disability in 2020. These students face additional challenges in college, which can reduce their chances of graduating.

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A Shifting Landscape: Mental Health in the Workplace

NLC (National League of Cities)

Co-authored by Georges Benjamin, MD, Executive Director, American Public Health AssociationArthur Evans, CEO and Executive Vice President, American Psychological AssociationSusan McCormick, President and CEO, YMCA of the USAMarc Ott, CEO/Executive Director of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Two years ago, the five of us launched an ambitious initiative to increase awareness about the importance […] Source

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Empower Digital Government: Strategic Workbook for Modern Transformation

Digital transformation is reshaping government interactions, bringing agencies closer to the communities they serve. However, while many have adopted new digital tools, few have implemented comprehensive strategies to maximize their benefits. Our Strategic Workbook for Modern Government offers a step-by-step guide to developing a sustainable digital strategy.

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Citizens Benefit from Application Modernization and Identity Management

State Tech Magazine

Code for America advocates easing the citizen experience in clearing criminal records when appropriate. “A criminal record can be a life sentence to poverty, creating barriers to jobs, housing, education and more,” the nonprofit notes on its website. But Code for America has found that the petition processes “to clear criminal records in most states is complicated and burdensome.

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A Proven Model for Supporting Maternal Health in Philly

Next City

First-time mothers join Philadelphia’s Nurse-Family Partnership program, a home-visiting model, and gain tools to better support their babies’ health.

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Offshore wind: Strategies for uncertain times

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

The offshore wind industry is facing macroeconomic pressures that are halting growth and profitability. Developers can embrace four key actions to help navigate this changing environment.

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It’s Time for Agencies to Get Serious About Their Hybrid Cloud Strategies

FedTech Magazine

Only 53 percent of IT leaders said their agency uses hybrid cloud with a “well-established” strategy, according to a joint MeriTalk and Hitachi Vantara Federal survey released earlier this year. Of the 150 decisionmakers surveyed between March and April, 91 percent cited operational challenges — data compatibility and downtime issues, in particular — with hindering strategic hybrid cloud adoption.

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7 Signs Your Local Government ERP Is Holding You Back: A Guide for Small Municipalities

Local governments and municipalities serving populations under 200,000 face distinctive challenges in delivering efficient and effective services to their communities. To overcome these challenges, many rely on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems tailored to their specific needs. Not all ERP systems are created equal, and some may hinder progress rather than support it.

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Unique and Irreplaceable Cities Making the Urban Amazon Visible

The City Fix

Amazonian cities are diverse in opportunities and needs. The region’s biodiversity is among the world’s most important, but its cities’ sustainability challenges are less well-known. These jurisdictions require financial support and capacity building to create sustainable, conservation-oriented, equitable, urban green.

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How Cities Can Pair Audio Detection with AI-Powered License Plate Recognition and Video Technology to Revolutionize Addressing Gun Violence

NLC (National League of Cities)

By Josh Thomas, Flock Safety Senior Vice President of Policy and Communications Though June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, city leaders across the country are painfully aware that gun violence is a pervasive issue that their communities grapple with every day.

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$1 trillion a year in tax breaks goes out the door. Are states keeping track?

GCN

A new report from the Volcker Alliance highlights the lack of transparency around tax expenditures, and calls on states to better monitor whether the tax breaks are achieving their intended effects.

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The Plan to Bring Social Housing (Back) to New York

Next City

Housing, tenant rights and labor justice advocates helped shape the proposed state housing authority. It will need their support to pass.

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ASPA TIMES Magazine: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

PA TIMES Magazine is a publication of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), a not-for-profit corporation. This edition focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in public administration, including guest columns, insights for the field and interviews with city government DEI officers about their work at the local level.

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In the long run: What leaders can learn from an Olympic gold medalist

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Alistair Brownlee, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, shares his strategies for staying resilient amid pushback, removing barriers to creating habits, and leading with conviction.

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Managed Services Make TSA More Agile

FedTech Magazine

Before the advent of cloud computing and self-service tech, IT professionals often drowned customers in tech jargon. But the industry’s evolution has brought a new way to interface with technology. Today, tech is intuitive and a lot more user-friendly. A toddler can master a tablet in minutes without any instruction. If it’s on, most toddlers understand the tablet’s common features in about 30 minutes or less.

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Synthetic Data Supports State and Local Government AI Initiatives

State Tech Magazine

Artificial Intelligence has the potential to transform a range of state and local government operations, improving the employee experience while elevating service delivery. But AI models need to be trained on a lot of data, and that presents a challenge. Across government at all levels, “there is a scarcity of the high-quality, highly diverse and relevant real-world data sets that are needed to train increasingly complex AI systems,” according to UNIDIR, a United Nations research organization.

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Hydrogen-powered flights: A greener sky by 2045

Open Access Government - Technology News

Exciting advances in hydrogen technology mean that fossil-free air travel could soon become a reality. Find out more here: Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have unveiled groundbreaking studies indicating that nearly all air travel within a 750-mile radius (1200 km) could be powered by hydrogen aircraft by 2045. Hydrogen aviation This development promises to revolutionise short and medium-range flights, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil-fuel-powere

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A Guide For Everyone: Accessibility & Inclusivity Inspection Handbook

Dive into this comprehensive guide to inclusivity and accessibility! This handbook equips you with indispensable insights and practical strategies to ensure every space welcomes all. Whether you're an inspector, designer, or municipal employee, streamline compliance with regulations while fostering genuine inclusivity. From detailed checklists to case studies, we cover every aspect, empowering you to create environments that prioritize accessibility without compromising service.

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When the Heat is On: How Cities Can Protect At-Risk Residents

NLC (National League of Cities)

Co-authored by Shweta Arya, Sr. Project Manager, Smart Surfaces, APHA Extreme heat is a silent killer. As the National League of Cities noted in 2023, warming from climate change — compounded by urban heat islands — is already having a severe impact on the health and well-being of communities across the country.

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How North Carolina’s Vietnamese Refugees Are Helping a New Wave of Afghans Resettle

Next City

North Carolina is home to the world's largest population of Vietnamese Montagnards. And as Afghan refugees find their footing in Greensboro, they have wisdom to share.

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Helping boards manage geopolitical risk with Jon Huntsman Jr.

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

In a conversation with the board director and former diplomat, two McKinsey experts offer advice on how boards can guide their organizations through volatile times.

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CISA’s Shields Up Expansion, Shields Ready, Spotlights Resilience

FedTech Magazine

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has expanded its Shields Up initiative with the launch of the Shields Ready campaign to improve situational cyber resilience governmentwide. Shields Ready complements Shields Up by enabling both the public and private sectors with tools, resources, policies and guidelines for mitigating cybersecurity incidents when they happen.

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The Ultimate Playground Inspection Handbook

Dive into the world of playground safety with this complimentary guide. It offers a detailed exploration of essential practices to ensure the utmost safety for children. Delve into inspection techniques, from assessing equipment conditions to evaluating surfacing materials. Gain insights into maintenance strategies to keep playgrounds in top-notch condition year-round.

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Defending sovereign workloads: Google Distributed Cloud's air-gapped approach to Zero Trust

Google Public Sector

Public sector and government organizations require cloud solutions that can drive innovation and also adhere to strict sovereignty and security requirements. For years, security experts have warned of the risks of government overreliance on singular security controls. To help address public sector and government requirements, we offer Google Distributed Cloud (GDC), a comprehensive suite of solutions.

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GPT consult: Leading the way as authorising engineers

Open Access Government - Technology News

Founded in 2011, GPT Consult has grown significantly since its origin to become one of the leading firms of authorising engineers Graham Taylor has developed the business from a sole engineer company to cover multiple disciplines of healthcare engineering and having a team of five authorising engineers supported by other engineers and a back-office team.

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Pedestrian deaths finally dipped in 2023

GCN

A new report shows some progress in improving safety for people traveling by foot, but the number of pedestrian fatalities is still far higher than it was before the pandemic.

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Time to Start Fighting Quantum Threats

GovLoop

One thing is certain: The day will come when quantum computers are powerful and reliable enough to render traditional encryption obsolete. What’s less certain is when it will arrive. But it’s imperative that agencies prepare today. Wait too long, said Keyfactor’s Chris Hickman, and “you won’t have enough runway to keep your organization safe while you go through all the planning steps.

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Sustainable Facility Maintenance Management for Small Local Governments

Unlock the potential of sustainable facility management! This guide empowers small local governments to lead with climate-resilient infrastructure, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and more. Elevate your community's resilience, reduce costs, and embrace eco-friendly practices. Discover the role of facility maintenance teams in green cleaning, sustainability analyses, and infrastructure upgrades.