Local Government Innovation Initiative

Penn State has a longstanding tradition of serving our neighbors across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Every year, Penn State units, faculty, staff, and students collaborate and contribute expertise across the state in areas including leadership and workforce development, public administration and policy, finance and economics, strategic planning, technology and data, community development and infrastructure, organizational effectiveness, applied research, and public engagement.

As part of our Commonwealth Commitment to serve Pennsylvania, Penn State Outreach is creating a Local Government Innovation Initiative. This initiative aims to connect local government to existing Penn State expertise, identify new opportunities for collaboration, build partnerships where appropriate, and develop sustainable approaches to addressing the demonstrated needs of Pennsylvania’s local governments.

To inform the discovery process and guide our work, we’ve assembled local government leaders and practitioners to form a Local Government Innovation Founding Advisory Council that will provide insight throughout the initiative’s research and design phase, helping Outreach understand the challenges facing local governments and the practical considerations that should inform potential responses.