Local Government Working Group

A group of Fellows created the Local Government Working Group, reflecting the growing number of local government practitioners, researchers, and others in the Academy. Following several weeks of planning, the inaugural meeting was held in March of 2025.

Organizer and Academy Fellow Wally Bobkiewicz invited participants and all Fellows who indicated local government as a focus area to indicate their interest in programming related to various topic areas, identifying and nominating additional local government practitioners to the Fellowship, and helping the Academy to connect to state and local project opportunities.

Workplan

Areas of Focus: The working group will identify ways to further discussion and research on the following topics:

• Affordable Housing
• Citizen-engaged governance
• Emerging Technology in Local Government
• Environmental Sustainability
• Fiscal Health and Sustainability
• Homelessness
• Impacts of State and Federal Preemption
• Recruitment and retention of employees

The Working Group convenes committees to develop research questions for each area of focus and develop frameworks to investigate the research questions. The Working Group regularly reviews these areas of focus.

Assistance in Academy Research Projects and Other Initiatives: The Working Group assists Academy staff in connecting members of the Working Group to projects. The Working Group also encourages Fellows to distribute relevant reports and event announcements to their networks.

Assistance in Academy Consulting Projects: The Working Group works with Academy staff to develop ways to market the Academy as a source for these projects and assist staff in creating teams of Fellows to take on projects. The Working Group also works to identify partnerships between the Academy, funders, academics, and consultancies for project/business opportunities/grants.

Recruitment of Fellows: A committee focuses on recruiting local government professionals as candidates for Fellowship.

Research Committee: The Working Group receives reports from the Research Committee of Fellows and research staff from the local government professional associations. They developed a research agenda of applied topics that would (a) provide public managers with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the current and emerging landscape of public service and (b) create opportunities for academic researchers to publish their work in peer-reviewed journals.