Carl Brown

Rural leaders are overworked, and many communities are facing a leadership gap. Extension leadership and civic engagement programs are welcoming everyday leaders, recognizing contributions that aren’t usually seen as formal leadership. #UMNProud 📰 Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gqGhqJDy

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PEC press release on the released JLARC study: Commission Study Confirms that Energy Demand is Out of Control Threatening the Community with Higher Costs and Impacts Across the State and Beyond https://lnkd.in/daDFdiCM

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As we look ahead to the challenges of 2025, I wanted to share some thoughts on leadership in local government. While our international contexts may differ, the words of Brooks Williams, MPA, resonated with me and felt more appropriate to share. Leadership in local government is about staying connected to what truly matters to the community and ensuring that our energy and resources are aligned with that purpose. It’s about listening—not just hearing—and taking action based on what is right. During the holiday break, I read Teresa May’s "The Abuse of Power", and what struck me most was the recurring theme of protecting institutions at the expense of serving the very people those institutions were created to support. As we face the challenges of 2025, and debate on our future function and form my hope is that #localgovernment continues to focus not on the institutions we work for, but on the people and communities we exist to serve.

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Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, USDOT is making transformative investments that will modernize our infrastructure to deliver safer, cleaner, and more equitable transportation systems. These grant opportunities can be found on grants.gov. Unlock the full potential of Grants.gov using essential search tips and tricks to navigate the vast landscape of funding opportunities. Link to Grant Searching Made Easy: Mastering Keywords on Grants.gov in the comment section below. 

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Changing your perspective, changes your experience. #ceo #boss #executivecoaching #publicservice #localgov #gratitude #citymanagementlife #experience #localgovernment #citymanager #citymanagement #service #perspective #govlove #resilence

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Community Involvement in Policy Making - One of the best parts of working in local government is hearing directly from residents about what matters most to them. Their insights guide our decisions, from infrastructure improvements to new public programs. But engagement doesn’t just happen—it requires deliberate efforts to reach out and involve the community. A piece from Harvard Business Review recently explored how involving citizens early in the policy-making process can lead to better service delivery outcomes. We’ve been working hard to create more opportunities for residents to share their thoughts, whether through resident and business surveys, townhalls, or digital feedback platforms. After all, our city is strongest when our operations reflect the voices and needs of those who live here. #CommunityEngagement #PolicyMaking" https://lnkd.in/gCFPDTXR

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Change doesn’t happen over night. It requires strategic planning, capacity building, execution and persistence. Our #Regional #Infrastructure #Accelerator program is not just about the initial funding. It also gives you access to Bureau’s experts, industry peers, best practices, lessons learned and much more. Don’t miss this opportunity to build a foundation. Early stage capacity building to consider innovative funding, financing and delivery solutions can deliver good projects more efficiently and cost-effectively. It’s good governance and a great way to invest taxpayers money. #buildamericabureau #usdot #innovativesolutions #transportation

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Local elections can be a catalyst for positive change—or a source of major disruption—for City Managers and County Administrators. Following the November 5th election, many are facing new challenges: shifting political dynamics, newly elected officials with bold agendas, and potential operational disruptions. At Imagine That Performance, we’re bringing together our Think Tank members for a special session on November 20th at 2 PM EST. This collaborative space will address what CAOs are experiencing post-election and offer strategies to navigate potential conflict, build effective relationships, and maintain operational integrity. If you’re a local government leader, you won’t want to miss this. Find out more and join us: https://lnkd.in/eR5j5chq ———————————————- Are you feeling the burden and isolation of local government leadership? As a City or County Manager, you carry the weight of your community’s expectations. Multiple bosses, public scrutiny, endless paperwork… It’s a lot to handle, and it often feels like you’re doing it all alone. Join other #CityManagers and #CountyAdministrators in a CONFIDENTIAL space for renewal, connection, and support. Share experiences, discuss challenges, and gain valuable insights from peers across local government. Schedule your no cost and no obligation consultation —> https://lnkd.in/eTKVWkdE. Think Tanks —> https://lnkd.in/eR5j5chq

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Don’t miss this opportunity. Round 4 of our Reguonal Infrastructure Accelerator grants! This is one of our best capacity building grants. Not only $10 million with no match requirments is available to grab, you will also get direct access to our experts and your peers. Let’s accelerate good projects and deliver them more efficiently and cost-effectively. #infrastructure #accelerator #innovativeprojectdelivery #innovativesolutions #projectfinance

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This is an important new set of rules for planning and vulnerability studies. Your Comprehensive Plan should take into account the 500-year (not 100-year) floodplain for post-disaster rebuilds.

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Honoring Our Heroes: Mid-Year Update from Indian River County Board of County Commissioners Veterans Services! At Indian River County Community Services, our commitment to serving those who have served us knows no bounds. As we reach the midpoint of the year, we're proud to share some exciting updates and initiatives from our Veterans Services division that are making a tangible difference in the lives of our beloved Veterans. 🕒 Current Wait Times: We understand the importance of timely assistance, and we're working diligently to reduce wait times for our Veterans. Currently, John and Melissa are scheduling appointments 30 days out, while Carri and Michelle are available within 21 days. We're continuously striving to improve our efficiency to better serve our Veterans. 🚶‍♂️ Walk-in Appointments: To provide immediate support for concerns taking 30 minutes or less, we invite Veterans to join us for Walk-in-Wednesdays in Vero Beach and Walk-in Thursdays in the Sebastian Office. From 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, our doors are open, ready to offer assistance and guidance. 🌐 Website Update: Our website now features an updated calendar of events for Veterans, with contributions from over 20 Veteran organizations in Indian River County. This resource serves as a hub for information on upcoming events and opportunities for Veterans to connect with their community. 🤝 Community Partnerships: We're thrilled to announce upcoming partnerships with Piper for "Lunch & Learn" sessions starting on May 31, 2024, and Career Source beginning June 14, 2024. These collaborations will provide valuable resources and support for our Veterans as they navigate post-service life. 📈 Metrics: Our efforts are yielding tangible results, with increases in calls and visitor numbers each month. From 813 calls in January to 1315 visitors in Q2 FY24, our outreach and impact are expanding, ensuring more Veterans receive the support they deserve. 🌟 Outreach Initiatives: We're dedicated to meeting Veterans where they are, which is why we continue to participate in Senior Resource Fairs, Coastal Concierge Expo, and monthly community meetings with the Community Care Alliance of IRC. Our commitment to outreach remains unwavering. 🎯 Future Goals: Looking ahead, our focus is on collaboration and expansion. We aim to work closely with individual Veterans organizations to provide training and support for service officers. Additionally, we're committed to collaborating with various organizations within the county to expand our outreach and enhance our services for every Veteran in Indian River County. #HonoringOurHeroes #VeteransFirst #CommunityStrong #IRCsuccess Check our calendar of community Veteran's Events. https://lnkd.in/e5QEJmkb

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Here’s the highlights from last quarter.

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Year in review: ReWa’s nine water resource recovery facilities were once again recognized with National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) Peak Performance Awards for compliance, including four facilities that have been in 100% compliance between 11 and 20 years.

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Come to Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Federal Symposium and learn about how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Construction and Facilities Management (CFM) is embracing significant cultural transformation. CFM’s has allocated substantial resources to enable enterprise wide improvement of project delivery by implementing Design Build methodologies for our expansive capital portfolio. Central to this transformation is the establishment of the Enterprise Procurement Innovation in Construction Program Management Office (EPIC PMO), which oversees collaborative delivery policy formulation, standards, and training. EPIC PMO serves a critical role in assessing the agency’s current capabilities and prioritizing initiatives to align with Design Build Done Right®. Attendees will: 1) Gain insights into the structure, and performance of the EPIC PMO, reflecting on its journey since inception. 2) Understand the approach VA CFM is employing to understand their current capabilities to prioritize development of tools and procedures to streamline project delivery, and how EPIC PMO is ensuring the success of these efforts. 3) Receive progress update on establishment of the enterprise Design Build Multiple Award Task Order Contracts vehicle for the acquisition toolbox. 4) Hear from a project team that is leading the charge in improving collaborative delivery methods in support of the $617M design build project to construct a new Health Care Center in El Paso, TX. Other fantastic panel members include Hayley Blaser, PE, PMP, Sabrina Sparkman, PE, Aaron Schroeder, PE, PMP, and introduced by Thom Kurmel, DDes, AIA, DBIA, FHFI #SB #WOSB

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NEW Report! HUD OIG’s Review of The Status of Puerto Rico’s Electrical System Enhancement Efforts. The Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH) budgeted most of its $1.93 billion disaster recovery funds for its two main electrical grid programs: (1) $500 million for the Energy Grid Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Cost Share Program, and (2) $1.3 billion for the Electrical Power Reliability and Resilience Program. PRDOH launched both electrical grid programs in 2023, and both programs are in their early implementation stages. As of July 12, 2024, PRDOH had spent less than 1 percent of its total budget for both programs – only $179,761 of $1.93 billion. Click here: https://lnkd.in/exxZS3em

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Great to see FEMA starting to proactively address the reality of our changing climate. "Under the new rule, the agency will “integrate current and future changes in flooding based on climate science” when it estimates flood risk, factoring in sea level rise and intensified erosion that will get worse over the course of the century." And requiring riverine areas to rebuild above the 500-year floodplain. Bravo! A great step forward, and hopefully not the last. #climatechange #planning #resilience

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🗓️ TUESDAY 🗓️The U.S. Department of Transportation will host a webinar on its Rural and Tribal Assistance Grant Program, which offers $27 million in technical assistance grants to #rural and tribal communities for the planning and design phase development of #transportation projects. Learn more on our #IIJA page: https://lnkd.in/gh8r24hP

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These Highway Trust Fund-sourced grants will help states repair or rebuild federal-aid highways and roads on federal lands damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic failures. Learn more about the recovery efforts on Transport Topics: https://buff.ly/3Ucj6oK #JourneyDelivers #FreightStatsFriday #HurricaneHelene

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