Polco

AI is no longer a future concern for local governments, it’s a present opportunity. In our recent Polco webinar, Hype to Help: How to Actually Use AI in Local Government, we explored what AI can (and can’t) do for the public sector. From real-world use cases to ethical risks, our speakers broke down a 10-point roadmap that helps leaders separate the hype from the help. You’ll learn: • How AI can support grant writing, public communication, and data analysis • Where risks like misinformation and over-reliance lurk • What tools (like Polco’s Polly and Grace) local governments can safely start with • The questions your organization should ask before adopting AI The recap blog includes a full recording + a readable summary of key takeaways. Whether you missed the event or want to revisit it, this is your one-stop resource. 👉 Read the blog and watch the recording - https://hubs.li/Q03P5X-t0 #LocalGovernment #AIinGov #CivicTech #GovTech #PublicSectorInnovation #Polco

Awesome article by the great Bob Lavigna, IPMA-HR SCP highlighting Polco and UKG's research into how investing in local government staff impacts resident satisfaction. https://lnkd.in/grtcZWex

🌿 Leading the Nation in Stewardship 🌿 We're proud to honor communities that go above and beyond in caring for their natural environment - a vital part of public health, quality of life, and resilience. Each year, Polco’s Best in Governance Awards celebrate local governments that lead the way in good governance across key domains of livability. Today, we highlight the winners of the Natural Environment category, based on data from The National Community Survey and Polco's GPAL dataset. These communities were recognized for excellence in areas like air and water quality, recycling, conservation, and climate initiatives. Their achievements reflect a shared commitment to preserving what matters most, for both today's residents and future generations. 🔗 Read the full story on the winners and why this recognition matters: https://hubs.li/Q03NWBnr0 🔗 Learn more about the Best in Governance Awards and methodology: https://hubs.li/Q03NWwxt0 🏆 Congratulations to this year’s Top Performers for environmental stewardship: Excellence - Voice of the People • City of Ann Arbor, Michigan • City of Clive, Iowa • Los Alamos County, NM • City of Snoqualmie Government, Washington • Town of Telluride, Colorado Transformation - Voice of the People • City of Elk Grove, California • City of Redlands, California • City of Rio Rancho, New Mexico • Borough of State College, Pennsylvania • City of Wichita Kansas Excellence - Community Impact • Borough of Aleutians East Borough, Alaska • City of Bellingham, Washington • Cheboygan County, Michigan • Juneau City Of Borough, Alaska • City of Kodiak, Alaska #BestinGovernanceAwards #NaturalEnvironment #LocalGovernment #Polco #CommunityExcellence #PublicEngagement

HR leaders in local government: Are your internal practices supporting external trust? A new Polco blog explores the five human resources practices that matter most not only to employees, but also to the residents you serve. From hiring transparency to building an inclusive culture, the post shows how internal workforce strategies directly influence public trust, service quality, and government effectiveness. This blog shows how better HR can build stronger, more trusted communities - backed by: • Data from Polco’s benchmark surveys • Expertise from UKG’s public sector HR team • Insights from Barrett and Greene’s decades of research 🔗 Read the full article: https://hubs.li/Q03NJgX50 #HRinGovernment #PublicTrust #LocalGov #UKG #Polco #BarrettAndGreene #CivicEngagement

Polco's Sonya Wytinck, EVP of Data & Insights, spent an inspiring week at the NXTSTAGE Community Health & Vibrancy Innovation Showcase - learning a lot from regional partners and fellow pilot competition finalists. We were excited to share how Polco unites resident input, benchmark surveys and community performance data in one integrated platform, and makes it all more efficient with AI. Ultimately helping leaders see the full picture of their communities and make informed, resident-centered decisions. We are excited to start pilots with innovative leaders in the rural economic development space. Thrive Allen County Russell Regional Hospital - Kansas Coffey County Economic Development | Jenny Tatman Office of Rural Prosperity at Kansas Department of Commerce

🚸 Mobility shapes community life, from the morning commute to a weekend stroll. The Best in Governance Awards for Mobility honor places that are improving how people move, connect, and thrive. These Top Performers were recognized for exceptional resident ratings and real-world results, drawn from Polco’s National Community Survey and GPAL indicators. Read the full blog: https://hubs.li/Q03NsjmF0 Learn more about the awards: https://hubs.li/Q03Nsp6D0 🏆 Voice of the People – Excellence • City of Eagan, Minnesota • Village of Niles, IL • City of Richfield, Minnesota • Village of Skokie, Illinois • Town of Telluride, Colorado 🏆 Voice of the People – Transformation • City of Ashland, OR • Grand Traverse County, Michigan • City of Mountlake Terrace, Washington • Stafford County Government, Virginia • City of West St. Paul, Minnesota 🏆 Community Impact – Excellence • Town of Blacksburg, Virginia • City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California • City of Lexington, Virginia • City of North Chicago, Illinois • Borough of State College, Pennsylvania #MobilityMatters #CivicEngagement #DataDrivenDecisions #PublicTransit #Walkability #BestinGovernanceAwards #Polco

🚨 Last Chance to Join! 🚨 AI in local government isn’t a theory anymore, it’s a necessity. Now that the buzz is fading, it’s time to get practical. Join Polco’s Alex Pedersen and Jim Schuett for a must-attend 45-minute webinar built for public sector leaders who want to: ‣ Save time with AI tools ‣ Communicate smarter ‣ Avoid common risks ‣ See real-world use cases from cities and counties 🗓️ This is your last chance to register! Whether you serve a city of 10,000 or a county of 1 million, you’ll walk away with tools to act with purpose, not pressure. 👉 Sign up now: https://hubs.li/Q03N9p0N0 #GovTech #CivicInnovation #PublicSectorAI #LocalGov #SmartCities #Polco

🏆 Best in Governance: Community Connection Award - Top Performers Community isn’t just where people live, it’s how they feel about where they live. That’s why Community Connection is one of the most powerful categories in the Best in Governance Awards, powered by Polco and The National Community Survey. This year’s winners didn’t just pave roads or run programs, they built belonging. 🌟 What the Community Connection Award Recognizes: • A strong sense of civic pride and welcome • Opportunities for neighbors to connect and engage • Support for diversity and inclusion • A high quality of life for families and retirees alike Read the full blog: https://hubs.li/Q03MXrTC0 Learn more about the awards: https://hubs.li/Q03MXCq90 These top-performing cities and counties earned outstanding ratings from their residents in the most meaningful areas of community life. Their success shows that when local governments prioritize trust, inclusion, and engagement, their communities thrive. Congratulations to these leaders for investing in what matters most: people and relationships. 🎉 Top Performers for Community Connection Excellence - Voice of the People • City of Coronado, California • Town of Davidson, North Carolina • Town of Flower Mound, Texas • City of Lewes, Delaware • City of Winter Garden, Florida Transformation - Voice of the People • City of Englewood Colorado • City of Grand Rapids, Michigan • City Of Kingman, Arizona • Borough of State College, Pennsylvania • City of Wichita Kansas #LocalGovernment #Polco #BestinGovernanceAwards #CommunityConnection

🎧 Look who’s on the mic! Our very own Erin Caldwell joined the Building Better Government from Within podcast with host Bob Lavigna, IPMA-HR SCP, along with government experts Barrett and Greene Inc. They dive into findings from a groundbreaking new white paper showing a powerful connection between effective local government workforce practices and resident satisfaction - even overall quality of life. Want to know how investing in employees leads to better outcomes for communities? 📺 Watch the full episode: https://lnkd.in/eajWCuJy

What if strengthening HR in local government could improve how residents feel about their city? A new study by Polco, in collaboration with UKG and Barrett and Greene Inc., digs into that question - using a 73‑item survey of HR practices (across 15 dimensions) and resident perception data from The National Community Survey™ across 238 municipalities. Key findings: • Cities with stronger HR practices had higher resident scores for customer service, trust, quality of services, and overall quality of life. • Strong HR isn’t just internal, it translates into how the community experiences government. • HR dimensions studied included recruitment, training, compensation, diversity, performance management, wellbeing, and more. If your city is thinking about investing more in HR, this research offers compelling evidence that it’s more than just support for staff, it’s a direct investment in community outcomes. ➡️ Read the full blog here: https://hubs.li/Q03MKBWl0 #LocalGovernment #PublicHR #CommunityOutcomes #Polco #UKG #BarrettAndGreene #TheNCS