Building Stronger Communities

If your meetings are empty and your public hearings are quiet, it could be a symptom of "engagement fatigue." In many cases, residents don't understand the impact of their feedback on your decisions. This session ... more

The nature of economic development has shifted from a field intensely focused on major industrial projects, to a more balanced approach–creating a quality of life in communities that draws workforce and ultimately major employers. This ... more

Short term rentals are a fast-growing economic phenomenon that is affecting most communities around the country. Local government leaders are challenged to harness the economic opportunity of new investment without negatively impacting the quality of ... more

Change is hard for everyone.  In local government, it is even harder.  Local Government leaders are dealing with older systems, complex challenges, and a diverse set of stakeholders for nearly every issue.  In this episode, ... more

The American Rescue Plan Act represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for local governments to accelerate investment in local priorities. Regulations around ARPA, as it is known, have been greatly simplified to allow local governments to spend ... more

While local governments have traditionally been immune to global workforce fluctuations, "The Great Resignation," along with the impacts of Millennial and GenZ lifestyles, is creating havoc with local government staffing. Matt Horn provides insights into ... more

As an elected or appointed leader, it’s easy to get mired down in the day-to-day necessities of managing a local government organization. However, if you don’t take some time to step back and set a ... more

Nearly every community in the country is facing a housing challenge. It’s likely that costs and inventory shortages are hampering your ability to grow your community, attract employers and generate new revenue. Matt Horn walks ... more

Telling your story is one of the most critical jobs in local government, but it’s also the most typically forgotten. We get so busy doing the work in our communities that we forget to tell ... more

Comprehensive planning represents a unique opportunity to pull back from the day-to-day challenges facing community leaders, and set a long term course for community success.  The right planning process can convert skeptics into champions for ... more

Local governments must prioritize resources. Economic Development is a great way to ensure sustained future financial success. The team at MRB Group and SmarterLocalGov have identified the top three things local government leaders can do ... more

In this episode, our host Matt Horn helps local government leaders think through the best opportunities to invest newfound federal dollars. The recently revised regulations provide much more flexibility. Thinking creatively about infrastructure, economic development, ... more

Economic Development is a team sport, and a successful effort means every player executing well on their specific role. Mayors and other elected officials have a unique role in communicating confidence in the regional market, ... more

MRB Group has developed the SmarterLocalGov initiative to support communities around the U.S. with local government operations challenges, including those in administration, finance, planning, economic development, and public works. This episode introduces the audience to ... more

In this episode of Building Stronger Communities, SmarterLocalGov team members Matt Horn and Michael N’dolo sit down with Lisa Nagle of Elan Planning to talk about how local leaders can benefit from state and federal ... more

In this Episode of Building Stronger Communities, SmarterLocalGov team members Michael N’Dolo, Heather Simmons Jones, and Matt Horn discuss how to attract large-scale projects to your community. Editor's Note: Building Stronger Communities is a presentation of MRB ... more

In this episode of Building Stronger Communities, SmarterLocalGov team members Michael N’dolo and Matt Horn discuss the factors that shape business recruitment in a community. Do you ever wonder why Target hasn’t come to the ... more

In this episode of Building Stronger Communities, SmarterLocalGov team members Jane Nicholson and Matt Horn discuss some surprising facts about affordable housing, and its unseen influence in a community. Misconceptions often drive discussions about affordable ... more

In this episode of Building Stronger Communities, SmarterLocalGov team members Jane Nicholson and Matt Horn discuss municipal planning and its role in a community’s success. How does a community define its core values? How can ... more