ICMA and Esri Strengthen Local Government Innovation Through Technology Alliance

International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and Esri have renewed their collaboration for a second year under the #LocalGov Technology Alliance. The initiative is designed to engage city and county managers in meaningful discussions about technology, data, and digital applications—and how these tools can transform local governance.

The Alliance focuses on equipping public sector leaders with the knowledge needed to evaluate emerging technologies, ask strategic questions about digital investment, and implement solutions that enhance service delivery and community well-being.

2014 Alliance Initiatives

For 2014, the #LocalGov Technology Alliance outlined several projects aimed at advancing technology literacy and innovation within local government leadership:

• A collaborative whiteboarding session at the Esri campus to conceptualize the design and user experience of future local government applications.
• Development of a members-only web portal providing ICMA professionals exclusive access to a local government app exchange platform.
• An educational partnership with Code for America to inform municipal leaders about leveraging applications to support civic engagement and service improvement.
• A hackathon scheduled for September 13–14, 2014, to coincide with the ICMA Annual Conference in Charlotte, fostering collaboration between technologists and public administrators.

Through these initiatives, the Alliance aims to promote practical understanding of how technology can streamline municipal operations, increase transparency and improve quality of life for residents.

About ICMA

ICMA advances professional management practices in local government worldwide. Its mission centers on strengthening excellence in governance by supporting sustainable community development and improving public service outcomes. The organization provides publications, data resources, peer-to-peer assistance, and professional development opportunities to more than 9,000 city, town, and county leaders across the globe. Decisions made by ICMA members affect millions of residents in communities ranging from small municipalities to major metropolitan areas.

About Esri

Esri is a global leader in geographic information system (GIS) technology. Its spatial analytics platform is used by more than 350,000 organizations worldwide, including government agencies, universities and private enterprises. GIS enables users to analyze data geographically, revealing patterns, relationships and trends that inform strategic decision-making.

Esri supports GIS deployment across desktop systems, enterprise servers, online platforms and mobile devices. By integrating location intelligence into organizational workflows, Esri’s technology helps institutions manage resources efficiently, respond to emergencies effectively and plan for long-term sustainability.

Through the #LocalGov Technology Alliance, ICMA and Esri continue to demonstrate how strategic technology partnerships can empower local government leaders to innovate responsibly and deliver measurable public value.