Innovation

How Local Governments Can Rise to the Infrastructure Complexity Challenge

COMMENTARY | To take advantage of the federal government’s $2 trillion in investments, municipalities must think big, start small and scale fast.

  • By William D. Eggers and Kevin Pollari

A Recipe for Supporting Our Innovation Nation

COMMENTARY | How should the public and private sectors work together to ensure the U.S. remains the global leader in technology? Here are four key steps.

  • By Ahmad Thomas

Not Super Creative? Try This Approach

COMMENTARY | Looking at emotional situations in a different way can boost creativity among people who tend to think more conventionally, a study finds.

  • By Futurity

City’s Custom-built App Scores Homeless Encampment Safety

With the Homeless Emergency Management Tracking and Prioritization Tool, Austin gets consistent health, safety and impact data on encampments citywide to support cross-departmental intervention.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

2 Tricks Will Help You Learn and Remember New Stuff

COMMENTARY | There are two tried and true strategies to improve your learning, whether you're prepping for an exam or learning a new skill.

  • By Futurity

3D-Printed Homes Save Time, Money, State Pilot Shows

A potential solution to Virginia’s housing shortage comes from the nozzle of a 3D printer.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

Becoming a Future City

Route Fifty’s third annual Future Cities summit is Sept. 27-29. Join us to hear how local leaders from across the country are preparing for the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow.

  • By Alisha Powell Gillis

New Data Resource Focuses on Racial Wealth Gap

The Black Wealth Data Center consolidates different data sets to allow users to compare inequities across their communities and the nation.

  • By Molly Bolan

Utah Readies Mobile Driver’s License Rollout

While the technology for the mDL is ready, the challenge is creating an ecosystem of partners who accept the digital ID.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

Biden Spurs U.S. Biotechnology with New Order

In a surprise executive order, President Biden directed more federal resources to go toward establishing a competitive U.S. biomanufacturing sector to support independence in key input ingredients.

  • By Alexandra Kelley

White House Team Unveils New Recommendations for US Semiconductor Industry Growth

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology introduced new advice to help successfully implement the CHIPS Act and develop an advanced U.S. semiconductor market.

  • By Alexandra Kelley

State, Local Agencies to Test Geographic Accuracy of Emergency Alerts

Amid ongoing concerns from local leaders about the system’s reliability, the FCC will evaluate the accuracy, reliability and speed of Wireless Emergency Alert delivery.

  • By Chris Teale
Featured eBooks
Road and Transit Infrastructure Trends
Federal Recovery Funds at the State and Local Level
Infrastructure at a Turning Point

Semiconductor Bill to Fund 20 Regional Technology Hubs

The CHIPS and Science Act authorized $10 billion for the hubs, in an effort to expand tech jobs and manufacturing beyond the country’s traditional innovation powerhouses.

  • By Chris Teale

3 Ways Governments Can Regain Citizens’ Trust

COMMENTARY | Transparency, efficiency and accountability are the key ingredients to rebuilding confidence.

  • By Rajiv Desai

White House Looks to Focus Service Delivery Around ‘Life Events'

The Biden administration is fleshing out a plan to organize government services around the needs of Americans and not around agency org charts.

  • By Natalie Alms

How Do You Plant More Trees in New York City? Give Them Away

In one Brooklyn neighborhood, saplings were available for residents to grab and plant in their own yards ahead of Earth Day.

  • By Candace Pedraza

The Benefits of Digital Payments Automation for Local Government

COMMENTARY | Digital billing can improve collection efficiencies, reduce call volumes and save organizational costs and resources.

  • By Patty Melton

Modern Building Codes Slash Energy Costs, Boost Resiliency

COMMENTARY | Homeowners are demanding features that up-to-date codes can help deliver but almost half of states have not embraced these standards.

  • By Ryan Colker

The Future of Government is Virtual

COMMENTARY | State and local governments are on the cusp of implementing technology innovations that will revolutionize the delivery of government services.

  • By Charlie Meyer

How Governments Can Prepare for Permanent Remote Work

COMMENTARY | As states and localities explore whether to sustain work-from-home models, there are key questions, especially around technology, leaders should consider to determine their readiness.

  • By Simon Threlfall

How States Can Improve the Customer Experience for Families Seeking Safety Net Supports

COMMENTARY | By making changes to technology systems and prioritizing the customer’s point of view, states can provide faster and more efficient access to benefits and ensure families receive the supports they need.

  • By Heather Hahn