Organization Overview

ICMA is the premier organization of professional local government leaders building sustainable communities to improve lives worldwide.

ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, develops and advances professional local government management to create sustainable communities that improve lives worldwide. ICMA provides member support; publications; data and information; peer and results-oriented assistance; and training and professional development to nearly 9,000 city, town, and county experts and other individuals and organizations throughout the world. The management decisions made by ICMA's members affect millions of individuals living in thousands of communities, from small villages and towns to large metropolitan areas.

ICMA's Mission

ICMA's mission is to create excellence in local governance by developing and fostering professional local government management worldwide.

Core Beliefs

During ICMA's strategic planning process in 2008, ICMA members reaffirmed the Association's core beliefs. ICMA members believe in:

Serving as stewards of representative democracy.
Practicing the highest standards of honesty and integrity in local governance, as expressed through ICMA’s Code of Ethics.
Advocating for professional management as an integral component of effective local governance and community building, with council-manager government as the preferred local government structure.
Building sustainable communities as a core responsibility of local government.
Networking and exchanging knowledge and skills across international boundaries.
Ensuring that local governments and the association reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
Committing to lifelong learning and professional development.
Building up the quality of the profession and the association through an engaged network of members personally committed to that end.

Organization Activities

ICMA offers a wide range of services to its members and the local government community. The Association is an internationally recognized publisher of information resources ranging from textbooks and survey data to topic-specific newsletters and e-publications. ICMA provides technical assistance to local governments in emerging democracies, helping them to develop professional practices and ethical, transparent governments. ICMA assists local governments in the United States through programs such as the Center for Performance Measurement, the Smart Growth Network, and other programs that focus on specific areas of need.