ICMA’s Center for Management Strategies officially announced its new Collaborative Service Delivery program at the organization’s100th Annual Conference, September 14-17, in Charlotte / Mecklenburg County, N.C. This program features educational resources for local governments, including a decision-making tool, case studies, and bibliography of relevant documents and articles.  Through its Leading Practice Service Providers, local governments will also have access to technical assistance services to help local governments evaluate opportunities for collaboration, including public-public partnerships, public-private partnerships and public-to-non-profit partnerships.

Among other benefits, collaborative partnerships result in strengthened relationships between councils and other government entities, enhanced service quality and effectiveness, a reduction in annual expenses, and access to additional  technical skills and expertise that may not be available within the government itself. “Collaborative relationships are a key way local governments are innovating today,” said Cheryl Hilvert, director of the Center for Management Strategies.  “Our goal is to get the right tools and resources into the hands of as many community leaders as possible to help them make good decisions.” She added that research demonstrates there are right and wrong ways to establish and manage these relationships which can deliver cost-savings and efficiency to communities.

The program represents  the latest research project from the Enhanced Research Partnership comprised of ICMA, the Alliance for Innovation, and Arizona State University’s Center for Urban Innovation.  

The Enhanced Research Partnership of AFI, ASU and ICMA  identifies and assesses emerging leading practices that can be further deployed. The ICMA Center for Management Strategies then offers training programs and technical assistance to support local government officials in the successful adoption of these new approaches that can lead to improved performance and service. Through the Collaborative Service Delivery program, local government managers will be better able to navigate the complex task of understanding and analyzing the concept of collaboration as it relates to service delivery, as well as making educated partnership choices for their municipality.

Resources Available

New resources underwritten with the support of ICMA Strategic Partner CH2M HILL include:

• A decision matrix tool to help facilitate dialogue in local governments about collaborative service delivery and potential partnerships.
• A research summary of findings on collaborative service delivery.
• Case studies demonstrating successful implementation of the collaborative approach.
• Information on available training programs on the topic.
• Access to service providers who can provide technical assistance to local governments regarding collaborative service delivery.

Additional information and resources are available online at www.icma.org/collaboration.

Learning Opportunities

• ICMA members can view a free webinar – “Service Delivery Collaborations: Are They Worth the Effort?” co-produced by the Alliance for Innovation and ICMA. Free registration is available until October 15, 2014.
• An ICMA University Forum,“Collaborative Service Delivery Is All Well and Good, But Is it Right for Me?” will be offered at the ICMA Annual Conference on Sunday, September 14, 2014, at 12:45 p.m. This forum is presented by subject matter experts from ICMA, Arizona State University, and the Alliance for Innovation.  
• Information on the new collaborative service delivery program will be available at the Center for Management Strategies booth in the ICMA Pavilion in the conference exhibit hall.