Sat.Jun 22, 2024 - Fri.Jun 28, 2024

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Scaling Cloud Services Tops State and Local Procurement Priorities

State Tech Magazine

GovWin has identified scaling cloud services as its No. 1 “hotspot” for state and local contracting, noting that bids pertaining to scaling cloud increased 39 percent since 2023, more than any other procurement area. State and local agencies have turned to cloud services such as Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, Software as a Service and Storage as a Service to modernize IT, improve access, and reduce maintenance and hardware costs.

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AWS announces $50 million Generative AI Impact Initiative for public sector organizations

AWS Public Sector Blog

Today, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced the AWS Public Sector Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Initiative. The two-year, $50 million investment is designed to help public sector organizations – and those that directly support their technology needs – to accelerate innovation in support of critical missions using AWS generative AI services and infrastructure, such as Amazon Bedrock , Amazon Q , Amazon SageMaker , AWS HealthScribe , AWS Trainium , and AWS Inferentia.

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In Philly, The People’s Budget Increases Civic Engagement and Moves Money

Next City

Four years in, the initiative has encouraged numerous residents to share their opinions on the city’s spending.

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Supreme Court rules that government can ask social media platforms to remove misinformation

GCN

Justices said in a 6-3 decision that Louisiana and Missouri did not have standing to sue. The ruling comes as a relief to state and local officials as they look to crack down on election-related misinformation ahead of November.

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Holiday Safety Tips for Municipal Operations

The holiday season brings joy and celebration, but it also introduces unique challenges for municipal operations. From ensuring safe snow removal and managing icy sidewalks to organizing festive events and addressing increased community needs, municipalities play a critical role in keeping residents safe and operations running smoothly. This eBook provides actionable safety tips to help your team navigate the holiday season effectively, protect staff and citizens, and ensure compliance with safe

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IT Modernization Is the Catalyst for Improved Government Digital Services

State Tech Magazine

Citizens and businesses throughout the United States don’t necessarily think of interactions with their local government as being overly efficient or offering a world-class user experience. However, those expectations are changing post-pandemic with the rapid advancement of technology and the relentless focus on user experiences from some of the most innovative companies in the world.

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Highlights from the 2024 AWS Summit Washington, DC keynote

AWS Public Sector Blog

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and inspiration dominated today’s AWS Summit Washington, DC keynote. But there was no shortage of newsworthy moments and key takeaways that extended beyond generative AI. Dave Levy , vice president of Worldwide Public Sector at Amazon Web Services (AWS), delivered the DC Summit keynote. Levy was joined onstage by three special guests who helped him set the tone for the annual two-day event that brings the public sector cloud community together i

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Pride Month: Spotlighting the First Openly LGBTQ Elected Official in U.S. History

NLC (National League of Cities)

By Kathy Kozachenko, Former Councilmember, Ann Arbor, MI My name is Kathy Kozachenko, and this is my story – or at least part of it. Fifty years ago, I was a 21-year-old woman full of idealism and a passion for justice.

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The ups and downs of global productivity

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Labor productivity over the past 25 years has been a success story for some, a tale of stagnation for others. Investments and digital transformation can boost productivity for all economies, McKinsey research shows.

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Implementing the Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act

Homeroom

It has been nearly 18 years since Congress ended the joint consolidation loan (JCL) program; no new JCLs could be issued, and JCLs could not be reconsolidated or separated. Borrowers who were married and combined their individual federal student loans into a single joint Direct Consolidation Loan or joint Federal Consolidation Loan with their spouse Continue Reading The post Implementing the Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act appeared first on ED.gov Blog.

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Bridging the Civilian-Defense Compliance Divide

FedTech Magazine

Civilian agencies teaming up with defense agencies on IT modernization efforts and sharing systems to improve efficiency are experiencing compliance challenges due to the latter’s higher-level security framework. As a result, civilian agencies may struggle to support the necessary security protocols and data encryption. Agencies may also encounter process disruptions; if the civilian-side workflows don’t align with those on the defense side, interoperability can be difficult to achieve.

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How Breckenridge, CO Ensures Tax & Licensing Compliance

Breckenridge’s short-term rental boom—over 4,200 licenses —put intense pressure on the town’s small staff and manual processes. Facing compliance and efficiency challenges, the town teamed up with GovOS to automate its STR licensing. The new system: Cut admin time Reduced errors Improved the experience for property owners and town staff Discover the full impact of automation on Breckenridge’s STR management—download the case study.

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How One Small City in Arkansas is Using Data to Connect Children to Nature

NLC (National League of Cities)

By Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, Batesville, Arkansas Before becoming Mayor of Batesville, AR, the population of 11,000, I was a Physical Education teacher and spent 32 years managing the municipal pools in the city. An avid mountain biker, I introduced the first mountain biking class in the state.

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Generative AI and the future of work: A Singapore perspective

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

There's no doubt the growth of generative AI will affect the future workforce. This podcast turns the conversation to how companies can adapt to thrive, drawing on Singapore as a case study.

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It’s OK to ban homeless people from camping in public, high court rules

GCN

The U.S. Supreme Court sided with states and cities, saying anti-camping laws are not “cruel and unusual punishment” and that the laws of Grants Pass, Oregon, did not punish people for being homeless.

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Cloud Vendors Must Consider FedRAMP’s Identity and Authentication Controls

FedTech Magazine

Cloud service providers must ensure they can integrate new federal security and privacy controls into their processes if they want to continue doing business with agencies. The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program revised its security controls baseline to align with Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5 from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and verify that CSPs are protecting operations, assets, other organizations and the nation from cyberattacks, human err

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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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How Grant Navigation Helps Revitalize Southern Communities

NLC (National League of Cities)

By the Strong Southern Communities Initiative (SSCI) team Every day, mayors and city executives have to decide how to fund a range of city priorities – from repairing old, dilapidated roads to implementing safe and accessible outdoor areas for seniors, often without the resources and capacity to navigate and successfully secure federal funding.

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Help wanted: Charting the challenge of tight labor markets in advanced economies

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

For almost two decades, labor markets across advanced economies have tightened—and the trend is set to continue. This article provides a data-driven look via charts to understand the implications.

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A Reader Asked for My Ultimate Top Ten Tips for the Most Effective Library Marketing Possible: Here’s the List

Super Library Marketing

Photo courtesy Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library The first thing I do when I visit my parents is greet their dogs. The second thing is to look for my list. My parents are aging, so I like to help with things they can no longer do. I wash windows, weed the flower beds, and sew on loose buttons. As I work through the list, I get a certain satisfaction in checking things off.

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Its time to stop being confused about cyber security

Open Access Government - Technology News

Grant Barnes, Threat and Vulnerability Manager at Cantium Business Solutions explains how a shift in mindset from feeling like a victim of cyber-attacks to a proactive defender of our digital assets can help raise our educational awareness of cyber security threats The public sector manages vital infrastructure making it a high-value target for cybercriminals.

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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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Supreme Court narrows law for fighting state and local corruption

GCN

The high court’s conservatives ruled that a key anti-corruption law only applies to bribes and not to “gratuities” meant to reward officials for their service.

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Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, May 2024

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Central banks largely hold interest rates, with inflation still above target; freight rates are expected to spike; the US is expected to impose tariffs on multiple imports from China.

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5 Things to Know About Quantum Computing

GovLoop

Andrew Wilson is Chief of the Quantum Physics Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which is developing quantum technology that aims to improve timekeeping and atomic clocks — a perhaps under-appreciated but core NIST mission. While it’s true that quantum computing is complicated, Wilson offers several thoughts that help clarify where quantum is today.

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The HALO Trust is working with AWS to clear mines faster and save lives in the world’s conflict zones

AWS Public Sector Blog

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is investing $4 million to support the work of the HALO Trust and trial the use of artificial intelligence (AI) with drone imagery to locate minefields and other explosive remnants of war in Ukraine. Innovating with AWS will enable HALO to make wider use of the high-resolution drone footage it collects, including testing machine learning (ML) models for identifying mines.

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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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What is ‘reasonable cybersecurity’?

GCN

The term is used in policy after policy. But with no standard definition, networks are often left unprotected and open to lawsuits. That is changing.

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Building a superpower: What can we learn from the Magnificent Seven?

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

A distinctive capability can lift a company’s performance. But it’s not easy to build one. Here’s a guide to how today’s stock market favorites have created enduring competitive advantages.

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Policy in 750 Words: Implementation science and policy implementation studies

Paul Cairney

What is the difference between the study of policy implementation and ‘implementation science’? Here are some simple distinctions and their implications: 1. The starting point for discussion, or the problem to address.

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Embracing Experience: Two Sides of the Coin Demystifying Small Business Ownership

NLC (National League of Cities)

Older adults are making waves in small business, whether beginning their entrepreneurial career post-retirement or as part of the indomitable silver tsunami of the Baby Boomer generation. This savvy but oft-overlooked group has served as the backbone of the U.S. economy, employing millions while creating opportunities for wealth generation and business acquisition.

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Boost Revenue With Simple Short-Term Rental Registration and Tax Collections

Government agencies that rely on tax revenue to fund critical services and infrastructure are finding it more urgent than ever to bridge the gap between under-reported tax revenue and taxpayers’ understanding of the processes. This is especially true as things like short-term rentals (STRs) have grown in popularity and become new sources of income for residents.

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Criminal justice reform may be under pressure, but it still has plenty of life

GCN

COMMENTARY | Policy advances in areas such as prison conditions, reentry and record clearing may seem incremental, but they will produce durable, measurable results.

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Anaplan CEO: How decision excellence drives enterprise performance

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Charlie Gottdiener discusses the growing importance of enterprise connectedness and the planning software provider’s research quantifying the business value of better decision making.

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The Department of the Navy adds AWS Marketplace to its Enterprise Software Licensing program

AWS Public Sector Blog

The Department of the Navy (DoN) modified its blanket purchase agreement (BPA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Organizations streamlined access to AWS Partners solutions available in AWS Marketplace. AWS Marketplace provides Navy and Marine Corps Organization access to commercial software and services from more than 4,000 trusted providers – accelerating procurement and modernization, improving controls and visibility, and optimizing IT spend.

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Government Should Brace for AI Disruption

FedTech Magazine

Recent developments in artificial intelligence require federal IT leaders to implement significant change management practices to keep pace while identifying opportunities and threats to their individual missions. That’s why the Office of Management and Budget issued a March memo codifying the need for AI governance and establishing requirements and recommendations for how agencies should address specific risks of relying on the technology in their work, especially when it impacts public rights

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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.