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Dear Friends of ILG,
We know 2025 has been challenging so far. But March marks the start of Spring – a time of growth, renewal and new beginnings – and we’re incredibly optimistic.
March is also Women's History Month, and we welcome the chance to honor and uplift the legacy of women leaders at the local level and beyond. This month on our social media channels we will celebrate the elected and staff leadership in our cities, counties, and special districts, and on our own ILG board and staff, by spotlighting some of the amazing women that have helped our public agencies thrive, adapt, and lead.
In fact, throughout this Spring, you’ll see us highlight opportunities, share emerging practices, and encourage the continued innovation and new ideas that we know our local leaders bring to the table.
In that spirit, this newsletter issue is full of good news, exciting project updates, upcoming events, recognition opportunities, and useful resources.
Through good times and bad, ILG remains committed to helping you navigate uncertainty with resources, trainings, referrals, and facilitated conversations. In addition to the finance and budget-themed webinars we’ve noted below, we will also be launching additional new materials, webinars and offerings in the coming weeks to address your other evolving challenges. In the meantime, we’ve also included a few external resources related to some complex issues you may be facing.
At ILG, we will continue to be your partner in serving and supporting our cities, counties and special districts. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our team anytime.
Warmly,
Erica L. Manuel
CEO & Executive Director
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ILG WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER | |
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We're excited to announce the addition of Riverside County Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez to our Board of Directors!
Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez (Pronounced IX-tian similar to
Chris-tian) is Riverside County’s 5th District Supervisor, a
former local mayor, teacher, and community leader who is
serving to improve and protect the things that make Riverside County such a special place to live. Riverside County is the 10th largest County in the United States with over 2.5 million residents – larger than the population of 13 states.
Yxstian is also an alumnus of USC’s Executive Education program in Strategic Analysis in Achieving Competitive Advantage. He also recently graduated from the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership program. Welcome, Supervisor Gutierrez!
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RESOURCES TO HELP NAVIGATE COMPLEX TOPICS | |
Have you been wondering how to continue to provide outstanding services to your residents? How to reassure and mentor staff? How to legally integrate diversity into your initiatives, or engage with your non-English speaking residents in a way that reinforces trust? While we are in the process of expanding our ILG resources to help you navigate these issues and more, we wanted to share some partner and affiliate articles and resources that you may find useful at this time. | |
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Promote Stability Amid All the Change
Organizational change often creates uncertainty and distress. This article details strategies for how local government leaders can create a sense of stability so the organization and employees can adapt. Read more.
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Resources for Advancing Racial Equity
We know that many of you are struggling to navigate this new and evolving legal and political environment with regards to what's permissible and what's not concerning policies at your organizations to promote diversity. To hopefully clear up some of the confusion the Othering and Belonging Institute just updated their legal guidance document. This revised and expanded guidance will hopefully answer questions about what is possible and what is not, and how to adjust or adapt to this new environment. In addition, they have also created a new FAQ.
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What Employees Need from Leaders in Uncertain Times
It’s one thing to lead through a normal range of uncertainty with its ups and downs. But how do you lead when the inflections, disruptions, dislocations, and other threat conditions pile up, as they have in the last few years? While the leader has little to no control over the external competitive environment, they have astonishing influence over the internal performance environment, including employee engagement, morale, and productivity. How can leaders help their people flourish during extreme uncertainty? Read more.
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California Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Toolkit
Collaboratively developed by local, state, federal and tribal partners, CWPPs focus on reducing wildfire risk to people, homes, businesses, infrastructure, natural ecosystems, and other resources. This toolkit provides guidance and resources for California communities to develop and implement these plans. Read more.
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The New Economic Development is Green...and it comes with $$$
Thursday April 3, 11:30am - 1:00pm
California's landscape of economic development is rapidly evolving, with a growing emphasis on sustainability, energy, transportation, housing and infrastructure, largely driven by climate action initiatives. This webinar will explain how to best harness federal and state financial and funding resources and examine California’s new Climate Resilience District, a powerful sustainability-focused Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. Learn about this new world of green funding, renewable energy, hydrogen, tax credit bonds, value capture zoning, and how to create green jobs and achieve a sustainable local economy. Register here.
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Boosting Local Budgets: Leveraging Sales Tax and Lesser-known Revenue Streams
Thursday April 10, 11:30am - 1:00pm
Learn how retail and consumer trends impact local government via sales tax revenue, and what to expect from 2025. Speakers will share the HdL forecast, cover the difference between regulatory and non-regulatory tax codes, discuss how to better leverage the lesser-known local taxes and fees that can shore up your budget for the year, and share lessons learned from putting these strategies into practice. Register here.
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SPOTLIGHT ON IMPERIAL VALLEY | |
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ILG Helps Secure $2.7 million for the City of Westmoreland
As part of our BOOST Imperial Valley project, ILG played a key role in helping the City of Westmorland secure a $2.7 million grant from the USDA Facilities Disaster Grant Program. This funding will support the construction of a new fire station and the acquisition of life-saving equipment, following significant damage caused by Tropical Storm Hillary. The new facility will serve as an Emergency Operations Center for the Westmorland Police and Fire Departments, providing a safe and modernized space for first responders. ILG supported the development of this grant proposal through its BOOST Program, a philanthropically funded program to support local governments in the Imperial Valley.
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Putting People First in the Imperial Valley: Public-Private Partnership and the Green Economy Transition
In October 2024, state and philanthropic leaders gathered in El Centro, California, for the Imperial Valley Civic Ecosystem Convening, a first-of-its-kind meeting organized by the California Governor’s Office and its partners. ILG and our partners are taking action to bolster the capacity of Imperial Valley communities to build regional economic prosperity through a set of three interrelated public-private partnerships that provide technical assistance, grant writing support, and training to local governments and CBOs so they can access public dollars and collaborate more effectively. Read more.
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Cal Cities City Managers Conference
Were you there? Team ILG attended the Cal Cities City Managers Conference where we connected with ILG and Cal Cities board members, partners, and hundreds of city managers from across the state.
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ILG Speaks at Climate Resilient California & Californians (CRC2) Summit
ILG's Karalee Browne spoke on a panel at the Climate Resilient California & Californians (CRC2) Summit on “Elements of Climate Resilience Blueprints” where she discussed local government efforts to move from planning to implementation of climate resilience projects.
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ILG Supports Grant Writing for California Local Health Jurisdictions
ILG hosted two grant writing workshops for California Local Health Jurisdictions to improve their competitiveness for state and federal funding for climate-related projects. We want to thank our co-presenters from the California Public Policy Group and the City of Arvin for their contributions to this great webinar and thank the Department of Public Health for their sponsorship of this program.
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GET RECOGNITION FOR GREAT WORK WITH THESE AWARDS & NOMINATIONS | |
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Get the Recognition Your Agency Deserves!
Beacon Award Applications Are Now Open
ILG's Beacon Program helps local agencies understand the actions they can take - from clean energy to efficient transportation, adaptation planning, community engagement, and more - to reduce emissions, save energy, and build resilience. Through the Beacon Program, local agencies gain access to best practices, resources, technical assistance, peer support, and are eligible to earn annual award recognition.
The Beacon Vanguard and Spotlight awards recognize voluntary actions of cities and counties to undertake climate and sustainability programming. Agencies that earn an award in each of the five Spotlight categories will receive the Beacon Vanguard award. The Spotlight categories are:
- Agency GHG Reductions
- Community GHG reductions
- Agency Electricity Savings
- Agency Natural Gas Savings
- Sustainability Best Practices
Learn more about each category and what data is needed for award consideration.
Whether your agency is a Beacon participant or not, you are invited to submit an innovative project, program, plan, or policy your agency has implemented for Leadership and Innovation award consideration in the following categories:
- Leadership in Climate Resilience and Adaptation
- Equity and Engagement in Climate Resilience and Adaptation
- Cross-Agency Collaboration in Climate Resilience and Adaptation
- Innovation in Energy
- Innovation in Clean Transportation
Applications are due July 15, 2025.
More information available here.
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Call for Entries: Cal Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence
Has your city found innovative, efficient ways to help residents thrive, improve public service, or enhance public trust? The Helen Putnam Award for Excellence honors outstanding work by member cities across the state in 12 categories. The program is an opportunity to thank employees and collaborators, celebrate with the community, and feel pride in your outstanding contributions to better your city.
Applications are due April 10, 2025. Read more.
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CSDA Annual Awards Nominations are Open
The CSDA Annual Awards showcase its members’ most valuable contributions to the communities they serve. The winners will be celebrated at the 2025 CSDA Annual Conference & Exhibitor Showcase in Monterey August 25-28, 2025.
Nominations are due May 1, 2025. Read more.
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National Civic League's All-America City Award – Accepting Applications
Each year, ILG's partner, the National Civic League honors ten communities with the All-America City Award, recognizing excellence in local innovation, civic engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. This award highlights the potential within every community to address tough challenges and drive meaningful change through the collective efforts of residents, businesses, nonprofits, and government leaders. The application deadline has been extended to March 6, 2025! Cities, counties, tribes, and community organizations of all types are invited to apply.
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AFFILIATE EVENTS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS | |
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CSAC Legislative Conference
April 23-25, 2025
Sacramento, CA
The 2025 CSAC Legislative Conference is an invaluable opportunity for county leaders to engage with legislators, state leaders, and county peers, all while working together to address the critical issues facing our communities. The California Legislature has recently welcomed more than 30 new members across both chambers, and this event is a unique opportunity to educate them on the important role of county government. Read more.
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Cal Cities City Leaders Summit
April 23-25, 2025
Sacramento, CA
The 2025 City Leaders Summit offers opportunities for city leaders from across the state to influence policy decisions in the Capitol and gain top-notch leadership skills. City officials can walk the halls of the Capitol and advocate for Cal Cities’ top priorities, in-between peer-to-peer discussions and in-depth educational sessions. Read more.
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MMANC Women's Leadership Summit
May 6, 2025
Oakland, CA
The one-day event will be filled with inspiring panels, empowering conversations, and dynamic networking opportunities. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a rising star, this summit is your chance to ignite your leadership journey and connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for making a difference in our communities. Recognized as one of MMANC’s premier events, the summit serves as a platform to propel future leaders of government forward, offering insights, strategies, and inspiration to navigate the challenges and opportunities in public service. Read more.
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Enhancing Local Government Websites:
Effective Management, Support and Redesign Strategies
Local government websites are essential tools for delivering services, sharing information and fostering community trust. Acting as a digital front door, they allow residents to interact with their government 24/7—whether by paying bills, accessing permits or staying informed about council updates and emergencies. However, keeping a website functional, accessible and user-friendly requires a balance of strategic management, ongoing support and a structured approach to redesigns when modernization becomes necessary. Read more.
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Renne Public Law Group and Renne Public Management Group Provide Public Safety and Wildfire Risk Reduction Services
The Advanced Wildfire Risk Reduction (AWRR) program includes a thorough assessment and visualization of community wildfire risk, a review of existing ordinances and the development of phased implementation roadmaps for targeted fire risk mitigation measures. Its staff focus on drafting necessary legislative and policy changes, assessing staffing needs and creating community-wide risk reduction strategies. AWRR includes the services of Karen Boyd, a public agency communications expert with decades of experience handling high-profile issues, and California Public Policy Group. Read more.
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CivicWell Policymakers Conference
March 13-16, 2025
Since 1991, the CivicWell Policymakers Conference has gathered local elected officials from across California in an inspiring and collaborative environment. This year’s event in Yosemite includes Toni Atkins, Wade Crowfoot, Dave Jones, a conversation with speakers from communities impacted by wildfire, and much more. Visit 2025 CivicWell Policymakers Conference for more information.
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