California’s local governments face a myriad of challenges from housing and homelessness, to climate, to budget shortfalls to aging infrastructure. Elected leaders and staff cannot effectively address these challenges without a strong foundation of good government – trust, accountability, responsiveness and transparency. ILG’s Leadership and Governance pillar helps local government leaders build that foundation, develop leadership skills, and increase public trust.

Inclusive public engagement is a cornerstone of ILG’s work and expertise. We often help local agencies engage with target populations that are diverse, under-represented, or disengaged. We help reach out to and partner with community-based organizations to inform, design, and implement customized public engagement processes that tackle a wide range of pressing local issues. Through our tailored, responsive, and customized approach, we’ve helped dozens of cities, counties, and special districts achieve success.

Climate Change is an immediate and escalating threat that is having a dramatic impact on the economies, health and way of life in California communities. Now, more than ever, local government leaders need additional expertise to assist with meeting the immediate needs of their communities, while still being able to make meaningful progress on long-term goals related to equity, climate, and resilience. Work done through ILG’s Sustainable & Resilient Communities pillar provides local leaders with capacity building services, technical support, partnership development, and educational resources to make informed policies, plans, and decisions around climate planning, land use, housing, infrastructure, and engagement that results in more equitable, sustainable, and resilient communities.

ILG’s Workforce & Civics Education pillar demystifies what local government is, why it matters, and how to effectively serve or lead in cities, counties, and special districts. By partnering with local agencies, educational institutions, and community organizations, ILG equips public sector employers with tools to recruit, train, and retain a diverse and talented workforce. Our offerings include tailored programs like Registered Apprenticeships to help local agencies build and sustain a strong, skilled, and diverse workforce pipeline. We also lead regional workforce collaboratives and highlight best practices in Civics Education and Youth Engagement.