Community Development
March 10, 2021
The “who, what, when, and how” of using these tools. Plus, case studies to show typical costs and timeframes.
January 30, 2021
In partnership with several counties, local municipalities, and non-profits, Local Government Academy has launched a new initiative to document the presence of blight and build capacity to remove its presence from our local communities. My name is Kellie Lesniak, currently a senior at Washington & Jefferson College studying Political Science, […]
May 18, 2020
Budgeting, personnel management, and community relations are challenging local governments on any given day, but during a pandemic? No, it’s not “business as usual,” and our local leaders have stepped up to the plate to calmly address the crisis gripping the world right now. Over the last several months, with […]
May 15, 2020
Local Government Academy is kicking off a regional Blight Mitigation Initiative to support the recovery from de-industrialization and overcome rural isolation that so often contributes to vacant and abandoned properties. This initiative will strengthen coordination across municipal and county lines, build relationships between county and local governments, and establish professional […]
October 30, 2019
Developing a comprehensive plan often struggles past the stage of Big Ideas. Enthusiasm wanes, the process stagnates, and the plan dissolves. The traditional method of creating a comprehensive plan often suffers from any number of these setbacks: Wasn’t realistic, too much of a wish list Inadequate affordability and capacity Lacked […]
October 4, 2019
October is National Community Planning Month, and to celebrate, Local Government Academy is pleased to present the online course The Importance of Municipal Planning. Led by Denny Puko, formerly with DCED’s Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, this introductory course is designed to provide local officials with an overview of tools available to […]
September 12, 2019
Due to the overwhelming interest, Local Government Academy is conducting preregistration for our acclaimed Newly Elected Officials Course (NEOC). Designed specifically for local elected officials in Pennsylvania, NEOC provides a comprehensive understanding of municipal finance, public safety, personnel law, ethics, media relations, and more. Focusing on the specific needs of […]
September 12, 2019
To celebrate National Community Planning Month, the Local Government Academy is pleased to partner with Mackin Engineering and Dawood to present the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute (PMPEI) Course in Community Planning. This in-depth course, designed for planning commissioners and local officials, is a comprehensive review of municipal planning responsibilities […]
September 12, 2019
Presented by Local Government Academy in partnership with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, State Historic Preservation Office, our online course Creating Effective Local Preservation Programs explains the value of historic preservation to successful community and economic development. Often misunderstood, historic preservation is a way to achieve economic vitality, marketing, […]
August 13, 2019
Presented by Local Government Academy in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the online course Historic Preservation: Driving Municipal Renewal offers planning officials the opportunity to learn more about the value of historic preservation in addressing both community development (by reconnecting citizens to their past and reviving community […]