October, 2024

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Attracting and Retaining Talent in City Government:  Become a Great Place to Work

NLC (National League of Cities)

Author: Bob Lavigna, Sr. Fellow – Public Sector, Ultimate Kronos Group “We all feel the pain.” That is how one local government HR leader described the challenge of attracting and retaining talent in today’s intensely competitive labor market. City government employees today have different expectations about where, how, and why they want to work.

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Digital public infrastructure is high priority for governments worldwide

AWS Public Sector Blog

Digital public infrastructure (DPI) describes the foundational digital capabilities nations provide to facilitate efficient and secure interactions within society, such as proving identity, paying for goods and services, proving an entitlement, or sharing data. DPI is a country’s digital backbone, rapidly enabling modern and responsive government, increasing inclusion and economic participation, and stimulating innovation across all sectors.

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Go, teams: When teams get healthier, the whole organization benefits

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Creating effective teams depends on multiple factors, including high levels of trust and communication, and understanding team context. A new approach helps elevate performance and create value.

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4 Lessons to Guide Cities in Wastewater Monitoring Efforts

NLC (National League of Cities)

Throughout 2024, the National League of Cities (NLC) organized workshops in Dallas County, TX, Laredo, TX, and Wayne County, MI, to help communities strengthen their capacity for wastewater monitoring. These workshops brought together stakeholders from local municipalities, utilities, laboratories, academia, public safety, elected officials and public health agencies.

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Overcoming Operational Challenges in Parks & Recreation

Speaker: Noratek

Maintaining parks and recreation facilities efficiently is no easy task, especially when faced with scheduling issues, aging infrastructure, and inconsistent inspections. Join us for this insightful webinar where we explore the most common challenges departments like yours are facing and how digital tools like CityReporter can help you streamline operations, ensure safety, and make better use of your resources.

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Public Utilities Benefit from the Industrial Internet of Things But Must Secure It

State Tech Magazine

In January, a cyberattack against water utilities in small Texas towns caused water to overflow in the city of Hale Center. “There were 37,000 attempts in four days to log in to our firewall,” Mike Cypert, city manager of Hale Center, told the Associated Press. The city defeated the attack by disconnecting the water system’s operational technology (OT) from the internet.

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The Decades-Long Fight to Protect Kettleman City

Next City

A massive landfill has been polluting California’s Central Valley for decades. With little government support, Latino residents are fighting an uphill battle to stop a permit renewal.

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PFAS—“Forever Chemicals”—May Be the Biggest Water Problem Since Lead

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

PFAS are all around us—in household products we use each day and some of the food we eat and the water we drink. In fact, their prevalence is so widespread that most Americans have traces of PFAS in their blood. Frequently referred to as “forever.

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AI power: Expanding data center capacity to meet growing demand

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Soaring demand for AI-ready data centers offers many opportunities for companies and investors across the value chain. How quickly they grasp them could determine the pace at which AI is deployed.

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AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance launches in Malaysia to stimulate the tech talent ecosystem

AWS Public Sector Blog

In October 2024, at Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Day Malaysia, the region’s AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance was launched. In collaboration with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) , the Tech Alliance aims to modernize tech programs of study at Malaysian higher education institutions, connect learners to in-demand tech jobs, and support the development of a highly-skilled tech workforce.

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Strategies for Improving Inclusivity for Individuals with Disabilities in the Workplace

Homeroom

By: Robert D. Morissette, Special Assistant, Office of the Deputy Secretary October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. More than 70 million Americans report having a disability. Even though people with disabilities are part of every community, a 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics report showed only 22.5% of people who identify with having at least Continue Reading The post Strategies for Improving Inclusivity for Individuals with Disabilities in the Workplace appeared first on ED.go

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Easy to Do Business With: Why Simplifying Business Licensing Is a Best Practice

Many business license applications still can't be completed online, creating a frustrating user experience and lowering compliance. Shifting to a digital process makes it easier for staff and businesses alike. This guide covers: How to build a licensing and registration experience that works for your staff and local businesses. Why technology is your best partner for improving licensing and registration compliance.

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An Abolitionist Approach to Debt

Next City

What if human dignity became our north star for policymaking around household debt? A new book explores the possibility.

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Microsoft Federal Developer Summit: Building AI Solutions

Microsoft Public Sector

Join us in Reston, VA on November 13 th and 14 th for the Microsoft Federal Developer Summit - Building AI Solutions! This exclusive in-person event is designed to transform the way AI developers build, deploy, and manage intelligent applications in the cloud era. Tailored for our Federal app, AI, and data developer community, the Summit offers an incredible lineup of sessions and hands-on workshops to help you drive secure AI innovation in your organization.

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Welcome to Google Public Sector Summit 2024

Google Public Sector

Today, Google Public Sector is gathering customers and partners in Washington, D.C. for its annual Google Public Sector Summit, an event focusing on the “art of the possible” in AI, cybersecurity, and data analysis for government customers. In 2023, we gathered the government technology community to explore and share best practices on how to get started with AI.

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The role of power in unlocking the European AI revolution

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

The rise of AI is driving data center demand and shifting power market dynamics. With European demand predicted to more than triple by 2030, significant investments are needed to realize this growth.

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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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Elevating internal customer support at Thorn with AWS: A generative AI use case

AWS Public Sector Blog

Delivering top-notch internal customer support is crucial for nonprofit organizations. Efficiently addressing internal customer support tickets can profoundly impact an organization’s productivity and employee well-being, apart from their ability to focus on the mission at hand. To meet these demands, many nonprofits, including Thorn , are turning to innovative technology solutions.

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Policy processes in China: A systematic review of the Multiple Streams Framework

Policy & Politics Journal blog

by Annemieke van den Dool & Tianlei Qiu, Duke Kunshan University Why do policymakers address some societal issues but not others? For decades, public policy researchers have tried to answer this question by using the so-called multiple streams framework (MSF).

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Native American Tribes Defend Their Very Heritage Against Ransomware

FedTech Magazine

For the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, a tribe of nearly 40,000 in Shawnee, Okla., guarding against a potential loss of data related to its history, language and culture is a huge priority. That means protecting tribal history at CPN’s Cultural Heritage Center museum and data in the Tribal Rolls Department, which handles membership, including tribal enrollment, burial insurance and tribal ID cards.

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The Strategic Advantage of AI for the Defense Industrial Base

Microsoft Public Sector

In an era where technological advancements are rapidly reshaping industries, the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) stands at the threshold of a transformative opportunity through the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The integration of AI into defense operations promises unprecedented efficiency, operational superiority, and strategic advantages.

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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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Raising the Bar on College Excellence and Equity: Update on the Postsecondary Success Recognition Program

Homeroom

By: James Kvaal, U.S. Under Secretary of Education Too often, the conversation on higher education focuses on a handful of colleges and universities that were founded centuries ago, have huge endowments and sparkling facilities, and admit very few students. While our country is lucky to have these institutions, we also need colleges and universities that Continue Reading The post Raising the Bar on College Excellence and Equity: Update on the Postsecondary Success Recognition Program appeared fi

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The art of 21st-century leadership: From succession planning to building a leadership factory

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Complicated times demand great leaders. Here’s an overview of traits and practices required to succeed as a leader today and a look at the factory model that can help aspiring managers ascend.

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Converging IT and OT Is Key to a Smart City

State Tech Magazine

Smart technologies have the potential to make cities more sustainable, efficient and secure, but maximizing their potential requires an IT and operational technology convergence that has historically been nonexistent. Fears of meddling with what has worked for decades, cultural differences between teams and a combination of other factors have resulted in IT and OT being treated as separate entities.

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As cyber threats evolve, cities and counties need to safeguard staffers’ mobile devices

American City & Country

No question, more local governments are facing cyber threats in 2024, says Tim LeMaster, vice president, worldwide systems engineering at Lookout. His firm is a data-centric cloud security company. It uses a defense-in-depth strategy to address the different stages of modern cybersecurity attacks, which now start with infiltrations of mobile devices.

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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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The Best Way to Prepare for an AI-Fueled Cyberattack? Practice

FedTech Magazine

When more than 50 IT leaders gathered at Microsoft’s office in Reston, Va., to discuss a series of cybersecurity threats in June, the meeting came against a backdrop of rising concerns about attacks generated with the aid of artificial intelligence. The officials weren’t strangers. Many of them had met on an ad hoc basis in recent years, including Saturday mornings, following actual cyberattacks that worried government leaders.

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Enhancing Federal AI Safety: Responsible and Secure AI Sandbox

Microsoft Public Sector

Who Should Read This This document will be beneficial to Federal Executives including Chief Information Officer, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Data Officer, AI Lead, AI Scientist, and Data Scientist, among others. Introduction This white paper explores the philosophy and implementation strategy of the Federal Responsible and Secure Artificial Intelligence (AI) Sandbox, an initiative aimed at promoting responsible and se

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Opportunities for Municipal Paid Leave Policies

NLC (National League of Cities)

Paid leave can take many forms, including paid family and medical leave, paid sick time, paid time off and bereavement leave. At the federal, state and local level, there are varying laws that require both government and non-government employees to receive a combination of paid and unpaid leave.

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Connecting for growth: A makeover for your marketing operating model

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Marketing leaders must propel growth while navigating increased complexity and scope. A new global survey in consumer marketing reveals the need for a more connected and agile way of working.

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Maximizing Municipal Budgets: Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners

Speaker: Noratek

Join this insightful webinar on how local governments can reduce costs and optimize resources. Discover how municipalities like yours are leveraging technology to enhance service delivery, reduce operational costs, and generate lasting ROI. Key Takeaways: Learn actionable steps to reduce operational costs and increase community engagement Explore how digital tools can streamline inspections and reporting Understand the financial and operational benefits of digital management solutions Hear real-

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5 Ways to Strengthen Water Infrastructure Security

State Tech Magazine

In early October, the largest utility in the U.S. was hit by a devastating cyberattack. The provider had to postpone all billing operations in the wake of unauthorized system access, and more than 14 million people were unable to pay for water during the weeklong billing shutdown. Communities in Kansas, Pennsylvania and Texas also experienced disruptions to water systems after cyberattacks within the past year.

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AWS and USAID accelerate Armenia’s cloud journey and digital resilience

AWS Public Sector Blog

During her visit to Armenia on July 10, 2024, Samantha Power, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator, announced $5 million in funding for a new public-private collaboration between USAID, the Government of Armenia, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The collaboration will be delivered through USAID’s Enterprises for Development, Growth, and Empowerment (EDGE) Fund , launched to leverage the private sector’s competitive edge to solve global challenges.

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Q&A: GSA’s Chief AI Officer on the Future of Generative AI

FedTech Magazine

Zach Whitman, the General Services Administration’s chief AI officer and data scientist, reminds his colleagues that the GSA was one of the first agencies to adopt email and internet access for the government workplace. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that GSA has fully embraced experimenting with generative AI, an emerging technology that has similar potential to transform the workplace, Whitman says.

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Building smarter, stronger communities with an AI-enhanced government workforce

American City & Country

There are an estimated 20.3 million public sector employees in the United States, representing a significant 13% of the country’s active workforce. The implications for turnover are staggering, as several thousand of these employees retire each year on average as others constantly join. Technologies once relied on to manage this process and reduce knowledge loss are no longer able to do so in an efficient, transparent way—skyrocketing costs, zapping institutional knowledge and worse.

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A Guide For City Managers & CAOs to Achieve Operational Excellence

This guide addresses the unique operational challenges faced by smaller municipalities, such as limited resources, budget constraints, and diverse community needs. By leveraging digital tools, City Managers and Municipal Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) can streamline workflows, enhance communication, and improve service delivery. The guide covers identifying operational challenges, choosing the right software, and implementing digital solutions.