New tools, resources help local governments evaluate potential partnership opportunities.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—ICMA’s Center for Management Strategies (CMS) officially announced its new Collaborative Service Delivery Program at the 100th ICMA Annual Conference, September 14-17, in Charlotte/Mecklenburg County, N.C.

 

The program features educational resources for local governments, including a decision-making tool, case studies, and bibliography of relevant documents and articles.  Through the Center’s Leading Practice Service Providers, local governments will also have access to technical assistance services to help local governments evaluate opportunities for collaboration, including public-private and public-to-nonprofit partnerships.

 

Among other benefits, collaborative partnerships result in strengthened relationships between councils and other local 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 for local governments to innovate today,” said Cheryl Hilvert, Director of ICMA’s 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 that there are right and wrong ways to establish and manage these relationships.

 

The CMS Collaborative Service Delivery 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 project identifies and assesses emerging and leading practices that can be further deployed. ICMA CMS then offers training programs and technical assistance to support local government officials in the successful adoption of these new approaches. 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.

 

New Resources Now Available

New collaborative service 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, and,
• 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

 

ICMA Educational and Annual Conference Learning Opportunities

ICMA members can view a free webinar, “Service Delivery Collaborations: Are They Worth the Effort?”, which was co-produced by the Alliance for Innovation and ICMA.  Free registration is available through October 15, 2014.

 

Attendees at ICMA’s 2014 Annual Conference can also attend an ICMA University Forum entitled “Collaborative Service Delivery is All Well and Good, But is it Right for Me?,” which takes place 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 also be available at the Center for Management Strategies booth in the ICMA Pavilion in the conference exhibit hall.

 

 

About ICMA

ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, advances professional local government worldwide. The organization’s mission is to create excellence in local governance by developing and fostering professional management to build sustainable communities that improve people’s lives. ICMA provides member support; publications; data and information; peer and results-oriented assistance; and training and professional development to 9,300 appointed city, town, and county leaders 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 throughout the world, from small villages and towns to large metropolitan areas.

 

About the Alliance for Innovation
The Alliance for Innovation is an international network of progressive governments and partners committed to transforming local government by accelerating the development and dissemination of innovations.  We seek out innovative practices, challenge existing business models, exchange knowledge, and provide products and services that help our members perform at their best.

 

About Arizona State University’s Center for Urban Innovation

The Center for Urban Innovation is the focal point for research on urban affairs in the School of Public Affairs and the College of Public Programs.  Its mission is to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods, cities, and urban regions by promoting innovation in governance, policy, and management.  The center seeks to accomplish its goals through basic and applied research in books, journal articles, and research reports and through training and development activities for local government officials.  The Center has a special interest in Arizona and the Phoenix region, and its research and outreach is local, national, and global. The Center supports innovative education and training, critical research, and community involvement.