April, 2025

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ReliefWeb and AWS distribute life-saving insights faster with generative AI

AWS Public Sector Blog

When natural disasters and conflicts create survival situations, the rapid response of the worlds hundreds of humanitarian organizations saves lives. Those organizations can save even more lives when they acquire information in pace with fast-evolving situations on the ground. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is investing $25,000 and providing hands-on engineering support to help the United Nations emergency reporting service, ReliefWeb , get up-to-date crisis information to everyone who needs itand ma

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AI Solutions Can Bolster Operations in Government Finance Offices

State Tech Magazine

According to the International City/County Management Association, many municipalities are only beginning to explore artificial intelligences potential in complex budgeting and finance domains. In its various forms generative AI, predictive AI and machine learning the technology offers transformative opportunities to automate and enhance budgeting and finance processes across both state and local government operations.

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U.S. Navy Shipbuilding Is Consistently Over Budget and Delayed Despite Billions Invested in Industry

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

Despite nearly doubling its shipbuilding budget over the last 2 decades, the U.S. Navy hasnt increased its number of ships. The Navy and Department of Defense work with private companies to build ships and have invested billions of dollars to.

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FedRAMP 20x Aims to Leverage Automation Like Never Before

FedTech Magazine

The General Services Administrations move to FedRAMP 20x should make it easier for agencies to monitor the compliance of cloud-based artificial intelligence systems in real time. FedRAMP 20x is envisioned as a more agile cloud access management framework than the original Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, which relies on a single snapshot in time when approving cloud services for agency use.

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How Gilbert, AZ Prepares for the Future While Protecting What Makes It Great

A top-rated place to live, Gilbert, AZ struggled with outdated short-term rental management—low compliance, lost revenue, and growing administrative strain. By adopting the GovOS Tax & Compliance suite, the Town: Increased compliance from 40% to 90% Generated over $85K in new revenue Has a single digital system to manage tasks more efficiently With a centralized hub for short-term rental registration and enforcement, Gilbert balances tourism and community needs.

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New Google Workspace cost-saving offer available for U.S. federal government

Google Public Sector

Government agencies rely on IT providers to provide secure, compliant, and efficient technology to help complete their vital missions. At the same time, cost-savings and productivity are taking center stage. These priorities - lower cost with better security and productivity - may seem at odds, but with the right cloud provider, they dont have to be.

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Welcome to Boyfriend Co-op, Brooklyn’s New Queer Coffee Shop and Cocktail Bar

Next City

Designed to feel like “a queer living room,” Boyfriend is all about ethical, sustainable practices – from its cooperative ownership structure to local ingredients to thrifted furniture.

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Real-Time Crime Centers Help Solve Cases and Secure Communities

State Tech Magazine

In Cobb County, Ga., outside of Atlanta, members of an organized theft ring ran out of a store with armloads of expensive athletic wear, hopped in a getaway car with a covered license plate and sped off out of the countys jurisdiction. Thanks to the Cobb County Police Departments real-time crime center (RTCC), the suspects were in custody within an hour.

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What Happens When a Government Contract is Terminated?

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

Federal agencies spend hundreds of billions of dollars on contracts each year to buy a range of goods and services needed to meet missions. This includes everything from office supplies to weapon systems. But agencies have flexibility to terminate a.

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Calculating Success Rates for the Housing Choice Voucher Program using HUD Administrative Data

The Stoop (NYU Furman Center)

The Housing Choice Voucher program is the nation’s largest rental assistance program, providing critical support to 2.3 million low-income households. Ensuring its continued effectiveness requires understanding not just where vouchers succeed, but also where improvements can help more families secure stable housing. A challenge for the country’s largest rental assistance program, which requires participants to search for and lease a home on the private rental market, is the difficult

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Rice University and Google Public Sector partner to build an innovation hub in Texas

Google Public Sector

Rice University and Google Public Sector are partnering to launch the Rice AI Venture Accelerator (RAVA) , designed to drive early-stage AI innovation and commercialization. This collaboration enables RAVA to connect AI-first startups with leading enterprises in healthcare, energy, transportation, and the public sector, aiming to drive AI-powered solutions to pressing industry challenges.

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Municipal Maintenance Guide: Inspections

Get this municipal maintenance guide that provides municipalities with a detailed and structured approach to maintaining city infrastructure. This guide outlines systematic inspection procedures and best practices, ensuring the safety, longevity, and operational efficiency of municipal assets. From roadways and bridges to public buildings and utilities, the guide covers all aspects of municipal maintenance.

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Navigating the AI frontier: Balancing innovation and security in the age of artificial intelligence

Open Access Government - Technology News

Ali Farooqui, Head of Cyber Security at BJSS , now part of CGI , explores how companies can balance the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) with robust cybersecurity practices “Can AI do it?” It’s a question I hear regularly. Whether it’s in boardrooms, project planning meetings or strategy sessions, the phrase repeatedly surfaces.

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Cal Poly seeks to transform procurement process with generative AI-powered scope of work generation

AWS Public Sector Blog

In todays complex procurement landscape, creating comprehensive and accurate statements of work scopes can present a challenge for university procurement teams. At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), procurement specialists manage over $190 million in annual spending across diverse commodity areas, many requiring detailed work scopes.

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AI in Procurement Is a Game Changer for Government

State Tech Magazine

Artificial intelligence has permeated dozens of government functions over the past few years, and government procurement is no exception. Jim Weaver, former North Carolina CIO, told StateTech that procurement was one of the first AI use cases in the state, and that it vastly improved procurement timelines. Recently, the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) polled all 54 U.S. chief procurement officers, and respondents indicated that AI was a key priority in 2025.

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Fast Fashion—Great for Your Wallet, Costly for the Planet

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

New spring fashion trends are here! To stay on top of them without breaking the bank, many people turn to fast fashion. But what happens to those ultra low-rise cargo pants and bow-adorned sweaters when the fleeting trend has passed? Most end up in.

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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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Ensure Your Digital Library Marketing Passes Accessibility Tests: Expert’s Urgent Advice

Super Library Marketing

Photo courtesy Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library Laura Solomon grew up in upstate New York with a mother who was an avid reader. She took Laura and her brother to the local library about once per week. My favorite memory about a library wasnt directly in a library, recalls Laura. When I got the chicken pox and was out of school for days, my mother asked the childrens librarian for books I would like.

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From Siloed to Seamless: The Need for Integrated Security Monitoring 

GovLoop

As agencies become more complex and disbursed, their individual security systems some focused on physical access, such as video surveillance, and some on cyber threats become difficult to manage. There are too many systems monitoring too many things, and they generate too many alerts to be fully useful. But if an agency integrates its physical and digital monitoring systems into one platform, employees have a single window into the agencys entire security ecosystem.

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AI use cases for citizens

Open Access Government - Technology News

Drawing on real-world experience and research involving over 4,000 AI use cases, Nortal provides insights into how governments can best utilise AI At Nortal, we have analysed 4,372 AI use cases, including 7 50 publicly available cases across 30 countries, to understand what works and what doesnt. Our conclusion: Governments dont need more AI; they need the right AI built for the realities of public service, integrated into existing workflows, and implemented with frontline professionals, not im

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Tagging governance using AWS Organizations in the public sector

AWS Public Sector Blog

When Department of the Air Force (DAF) software factories scale their cloud operations across mission-critical environments, maintaining consistent resource tagging becomes crucial for security, compliance, and operational effectiveness. For organizations like Kessel Run , a unit that provides capabilities within the DAF Battle Network , ensuring compliance while maintaining rapid deployment capabilities is essential for delivering capabilities to warfighters.

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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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2025 PTI AI and Cyber Summit to Explore Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity

State Tech Magazine

The Public Technology Institute hosts its 2025 AI and Cyber Summit April 23 in Washington, D.C., providing a valuable forum for local governments to discuss artificial intelligence and cybersecurity initiatives, obstacles and convergence. Elizabeth Di Bene, CISO for Loudoun County, Va., is one of the scheduled speakers, addressing the summit for a panel titled The Intersection of AI, Cybersecurity and Innovation: Opportunities and Challenges.

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Financial Literacy in a Digital Age

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

With a quick tap on your phone or stroke of a few computer keys, payments can be made or accepted from around the world. The growth of digital financial products and servicessuch as online banks, investment platforms, and payment apps like PayPal.

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The Department of the Air Force Needs a Chief Software Officer

FedTech Magazine

The number of military operational outcomes that rely on software continues to grow at an accelerated pace. So why doesnt the Department of the Air Force have a chief software officer? Many individual commands are responsible for aspects of software within their traditional functional areas; however, there isnt a single DAF individual or office that is laser-focused on all aspects of software, not since Nicolas Chaillan departed the chief software officer position late 2021.

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Unlock the Secrets to Engaging Niche Audiences in Library Marketing

Super Library Marketing

Watch this video now #LibraryMarketingShow, episode 285 How exactly do you market to a niche audience? I have a viewer who wrote that they work for a particular kind of library and want some help with marketing advice. And I think this advice actually applies to everyone working in library marketing. So, we’re going to get into niche audiences in this episode of The Library Marketing Show!

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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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UK Government to introduce cyber security and resilience bill

Open Access Government - Technology News

Today, the UK government has revealed its new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill plans, in hope of improving the nation’s defence against growing cyber threats The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which is set to be introduced later this year, is part of the government’s wider strategy to protect vital national services, support economic growth, and ensure the safety of the UK’s digital infrastructure.

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How AWS IoT services address NIST 800-183: Networks of ‘Things’

AWS Public Sector Blog

In our previous posts about how public sector organizations can secure their Internet of Things (IoT) deployments, we introduced the AWS IoT family of services in Secure your organizations Internet of Things devices using AWS IoT , and we dove deep into IoT communications with 4 common IoT protocols and their security considerations. In this post, we will explore AWS IoT services in the context of NIST Special Publication 800-183: Networks of Things.

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Airports Secure Their IT Operations and Improve Business Continuity

State Tech Magazine

Cybersecurity is paramount at airports. Any successful cyberattack or IT outage can snarl air traffic, diminish the passenger experience, and put staff and passenger data at risk. Knowing this, CIO Eduardo Valencia charted a course toward more robust IT operations when he joined the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which runs MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport (MSP).

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Seizing new opportunities to lead change amid turmoil and uncertainty in the public sector

Partnership for Public Service

Major change is rippling through the federal government right now, with agencies enacting reductions in force that are slashing the federal civil service and dramatically changing the way it works. The Partnerships Public Service Leadership Model offers a roadmap for government leaders at all levels to navigate this turmoil. The models Leading Change competency can help public servants embrace risk and uncertainty, and leverage vision, influence, adaptability, and innovation and creativity to st

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2025 Business Owner Survey: Guide for Cities, Counties, and State Agencies

The 2025 Business Owner Survey delivers key insights for cities, counties, and state agencies working to enhance online services. Top insights: 97% of business owners say digital access to government services is essential. Licensing and tax processes remain outdated, slowing efficiency and increasing administrative burdens. Younger entrepreneurs expect fully online, self-service options, signaling a need for modernization.

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Microsoft Supports Solutions to Help Feds Police Their AI Work

FedTech Magazine

Many government organizations are grappling with how to use artificial intelligence securely. There are major concerns regarding sensitive information being fed inadvertently into AI environments, unauthorized access to AI environments enabling data breaches, and tampering with AI environments to alter outputs, among other risks. AI security is even more challenging for organizations, including agencies, that are subject to additional cybersecurity and privacy laws or regulations.

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Why the Future of Government Efficiency Starts Locally

OpenGov

When the federal government established new efficiency standards in 2025, the headlines focused on Washington. But while the initiative originates at the federal level, its impact, and its success, will […] The post Why the Future of Government Efficiency Starts Locally appeared first on OpenGov.

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Restricted: How export controls are reshaping markets

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

The growing number of export restrictions is disrupting companies market strategies and tangling their supply chains. Heres how CEOs can navigate the shifting landscape of global trade.

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From vision to reality: Inspiring your educational institution’s first steps in AI with AWS

AWS Public Sector Blog

Handling change has always been challenging in educationa field grounded in tradition yet tasked with preparing students for an ever-evolving future. Today, as artificial intelligence ( AI ) reshapes industries worldwide, many institutions stand at a crossroads. Some embrace AIs potential, while others remain cautious, concerned about ethical implications and the complexity of implementation.

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Municipal Maintenance: Ready, Set, Inspect!

Speaker: Noratek

Maintaining municipal operations is no small task, especially when budgets are tight and public expectations are high. In this webinar, we’ll explore how local governments can streamline their maintenance operations while ensuring safety, compliance, and efficiency. What You’ll Gain: Proven strategies for effective inspection management Insight into leveraging digital tools Practical tips for addressing common maintenance challenges Examples of municipalities that have achieved success.