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Overview of ICMA's GIS Program

ICMA’s Geospatial Information Systems Program works to actively engage local government professionals in the development and use of GIS infrastructure. ICMA staff members work to connect local government professionals with each other, state officials, federal programs and the private sector in order to use GIS as a management tool to both improve governance and service delivery for citizens as well as to improve the management and coordination of local government functions.

Goals of the GIS Program

More actively engage ICMA membership

Local governments are important stakeholders to be engaged in the development of the national GIS infrastructure. Communities, regardless of resources levels, need to engage in the dialogue and plan for the day that GIS comes to their town. Otherwise, they will find themselves technologically isolated and economically uncompetitive. In the same way that every member of ICMA knows about Smart Growth and homeland security issues, even if they are not immediately addressing them – so too should they have at least a basic understand of geospatial issues. And a number of them should have a great familiarity with GIS and understand why it is an important issue for the social, economic, environmental and technical futures of cities.

Improve local government service delivery

Geospatial technology is a new infrastructure like electrification was 95 years ago, and interstate highways were 50 years ago and computers were 15 years ago. GIS is going to become standardized - so local governments need to be at the table today – articulating their needs and strategizing together about ways to improve service delivery, and develop collaborative approaches to data collection.

Increase Private sector involvement

Like other infrastructure efforts, the private sector has a lot to gain from participating in the ground floor of GIS in local govnerments. The ICMA GIS program will work to facilitate between LGs and private sector so that products and services match needs and capacities.