Mission possible: How cities and counties can innovate to overcome fiscal challenges

Cities and counties will need to draw on lessons learned and engage with partners to succeed.

By Andrew Kleine • May 1, 2025

The Top 4 Operational Challenges in Food Service Programs

Managing an internal foodservice program presents a unique set of challenges that are, at times, difficult to work around. Whether you are working in a cafeteria or selecting equipment for a corporate breakroom, these 4 challenges will present themselves during the process. Come along for the ride as we dive into not just the challenges but, more importantly, the solutions available to you when you tap into the power of a cooperative for your foodservice program.

By OMNIA Partners • May 1, 2025

Optimizing Facilities Maintenance: Key Strategies for Government Agencies

Government facilities are essential assets that require continuous attention to ensure safety, functionality, and efficiency. Maintaining these public sector buildings—from local offices to large municipal centers—is not just about keeping things running; it's about investing in their long-term performance, sustainability, and value. While many agencies aim to keep up with maintenance, the reality is that limited resources, staff, and time often lead to deferred maintenance. This can result in serious downtime, delayed repairs, and ultimately higher costs. Addressing maintenance proactively through efficient strategies and utilizing cooperative solutions can prevent backlogs and ensure that public buildings remain fully operational.

By OMNIA Partners • May 1, 2025

Streamline Your Furniture Buying Process Through Cooperative Purchasing

Every space needs furniture to be functional. Without desks, your students can’t learn comfortably. Without cubicles, your employees can’t have their own workspace. Without dorm furniture, your university students can’t live on campus. Workspace solutions and interiors are the foundation of the functionality of agencies, schools, and universities. Are you stressed about furnishing your space? Furniture buying can be a stressful process, but it doesn’t HAVE to be. Utilizing the furniture contracts within your cooperative purchasing organization’s portfolio can help you achieve time and cost savings as well as bring value to your agency or school in other ways.

By OMNIA Partners • May 1, 2025

Smart Procurement Strategies for Safer Communities and Stronger Public Safety

Public safety is a top priority for every community. From local festivals and large-scale public events to the everyday operations of fire departments, EMS teams, and law enforcement agencies, ensuring the safety of citizens requires a coordinated, well-equipped effort. Behind the scenes, procurement teams play a critical role—sourcing the essential tools, services, and technologies that make effective public safety operations possible. With increased pressure to do more with less, procurement professionals are turning to cooperative purchasing as a smarter, more efficient way to access reliable, innovative public safety solutions.

May 1, 2025

Trump directs Justice Department, military to support local law enforcement

The National Police Association applauds the order as providing needed support, while civil liberties groups warn of federal overreach and the danger of escalating tensions.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • May 1, 2025

Cooperative procurement contracts can be a real time-saver for lean-staffed cities and counties

In addition to making the procurement process more efficient, cooperative purchasing enables procurement teams to be more strategic value-drivers within their organization. Cooperative purchasing can also uncover additional cost savings opportunities that may otherwise have gone unrealized.

By Michael Keating • April 30, 2025

Smarter infrastructure: How rural and suburban counties can leverage advanced GIS data

Regardless of whether a county encompasses a large urban area, sprawling suburb or rural countryside, county officials need visibility into underlying infrastructure. Here's how our smaller county obtained and benefited from GIS data.

By Matt Fox • April 30, 2025

House committee proposes annual $250 fee for EVs

Shoring up the Highway Trust Fund with annual federal registration fees for electric and hybrid vehicles is part of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s budget reconciliation proposal.

By Dan Zukowski • Updated May 1, 2025

DOT will cut funds to transportation projects with DEI: Duffy

The U.S. transportation secretary also told funding recipients that they need to cooperate with immigration officers or potentially face civil or criminal prosecution.

By Julie Strupp • April 30, 2025

5 ‘sanctuary cities’ sue DHS to restore counterterrorism funds

The cities allege the Department of Homeland Security is jeopardizing terror preparedness and radiological detection efforts after reimbursements have stalled for months.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated June 17, 2025

Small cities, big scandals: Why smaller cities are at greater risk of fraud

The financial impact of fraud can be devastating for a smaller city. Investing in prevention protocols is vital to protect public funds and ensure financial stability for the future.

By Patricia Castro, CAPM, Shannon Castillo, MBA, CFE • April 28, 2025

The urgency to evolve enterprise risk management in local governments

Local governments are facing escalating threats that extend beyond traditional risk management. Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is a holistic strategy that enables municipalities to identify, assess and mitigate risks across all sectors, fostering resilience and safeguarding communities.

By Steve Monaghan • April 25, 2025

The power of checkpoints: Protecting first responders’ emotional health

During my tenure as assistant chief at the Dallas Police Department, I saw firsthand how a lack of mental health support could erode officer morale and effectiveness. These experiences led me to develop Checkpoints.

By Reuben Ramirez • April 25, 2025

Jacksonville, Florida, city council members launch their own DOGE committee

Some residents question the motivation behind the effort to cut $50 million from the city budget and make local government more efficient.

By Danielle McLean • April 25, 2025

Ransomware in 2025: Understanding the four stages of attack and why zero trust is critical for state and local governments

To protect government agencies from the financial, operational and reputational damage of ransomware, implementing a zero-trust security model is essential.

By Adam Ford • April 24, 2025

Justice Department cancels hundreds of public safety grants

The move will impede progress that’s been made on deterring crime, the U.S. Conference of Mayors says, calling for the grants’ reinstatement.  

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 24, 2025

The forgotten districts of local government: Special districts

Special districts and special purpose districts are a vital yet often underrecognized component of local government and the community at large. It’s important to educate the public on what special districts are, the challenges they face and how to navigate them.

By Brenden Elwood • April 23, 2025

DOT threatens NY highway funds if congestion pricing continues

The Trump administration set a May 21 deadline for New York state to end its tolling plan for Manhattan.

By Dan Zukowski • April 23, 2025

As local governments acquire new technology, they need to ensure that the new system is future-proof

When they buy new software and technology, cities and counties need to consider its impact on their residents, as well as how their staffers will engage with it.

By Michael Keating • April 22, 2025

Trump administration takes control of $7B Penn Station redevelopment

Neither the MTA nor the U.S. Department of Transportation has disclosed how the takeover will affect project timelines or ongoing construction activity at the site.

By Sebastian Obando • April 22, 2025

2024 Crown Communities: Cedar Park Public Library

The newly built public library is the anchor of a new downtown district for the Central Texas city, where it serves as the “front porch” of the community.

By Michelle Havich • April 18, 2025

Judge unfreezes billions in IRA, IIJA funds

The temporary injunction resumes public health, clean air and climate-resilience efforts halted by Trump’s executive order.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 16, 2025

ICE agents denied entry into LAUSD elementary schools

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security maintains the incidents, which rattled the education community, were "wellness checks on children who arrived unaccompanied at the border." 

By Naaz Modan • April 16, 2025

Authorium steps into growing field of AI-supported government procurement products

Authorium's new AI tool was trained on 15 million government procurement documents and can generate statements of work “in minutes," the company says.

By Ryan Kushner • April 14, 2025