Local government and public policy

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Helping citizens tap into local strengths and university resources.

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Events

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Neighborhood Leadership Fellows 2021

Event date: Jan. 8, 2021 - Oct. 17, 2021

The 2021 Neighborhood Leadership Fellows Application is now open!Seeking Promise Zone residents who want to create more equitable regional policies for neighborhoods!Neighborhood Leadership Fellows (NLF) is a nine-month advanced leadership training ...

Neighboring 101 Series for 2021

Event date: May 20, 2021 - Dec. 16, 2021

We live in a smile and wave culture where neighbors do not know each others names and seldom develop meaningful relationships. At the same time we have a national epidemic of loneliness, we say we feel more isolated than ever, and our communities ...

Collaborative Leadership & Governance

Event date: June 3, 2021 - July 15, 2021

EXPLORE HOW COLLABORATION CAN CHANGE YOUR EXPERIENCE OF LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCECollaborative leadership and governance is about bringing the right people together, supporting them with good tools and practices, and engaging them to work ...

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Placemaking and Jobs

Published: Thursday, May 13, 2021

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The availability of good jobs is critical for attracting new residents to a community, encouraging former residents to return and convincing current residents to stay. But jobs alone are not enough anymore. Creating a vibrant ...

Positive approaches to negativity on social media

Published: Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Putting your community in the social media limelight brings the risk of receiving occasional negative comments. You might be thinking, “Won’t negative comments turn other potential customers away?”Not necessarily, says ...

Summit challenges youth to lead with courage

Published: Tuesday, April 3, 2018

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Almost 160 teens and adults attended the 2018 Missouri Youth Civic Leaders Summit near Camdenton in March. Youth and adult teams gathered from more than 20 county 4-H programs and community betterment groups across ...

Arts can boost, diversify small-town economies

Published: Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – A two-day training this fall will show civic leaders, artists, elected officials, entrepreneurs, business owners and others how the arts can play a role in community and economic development.“Community Development Academy ...

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Broadband Technologies: A Primer on Access and Solutions

Publication date: June 1, 2021

Access to high-speed internet, or broadband, encourages equitable distance-learning, remote-work, quality-of-life and entrepreneurial opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic not only reinforced but also elevated the importance of household access to ...

Rules for Missouri Ambulance Districts

Publication date: July 1, 2020

Ballard Local Government SeriesAcknowledgmentsThe purpose of this manual is to help ambulance district officials understand and comply with the state’s requirements. It is, first and foremost, the work of the late John Ballard. This manual would ...

Rules for Missouri Fire Protection Districts

Publication date: May 1, 2020

Ballard Local Government SeriesAcknowledgmentsThe purpose of this manual is to help fire protection district officials understand and comply with the state’s requirements. It is, first and foremost, the work of the late John Ballard. This edition ...

Population Change and Fiscal Stress in Missouri’s Third Class Counties

Publication date: Oct. 1, 2019

During the recent recession, local governments struggled to manage budgets as revenues dropped. Because the recession was deeper and longer than any in the past half-century, with a slower recovery, reserve funds were not sufficient.With lower ...

Missouri’s Third Class County Budget Trend Analysis

Publication date: Jan. 1, 2019

A gift in honor of the contributions of Dr. Curtis Bracheler contributed to this project. Dr. James Ahrenholz established the gift.This electronic workbook enables Missouri third class counties to analyze county fiscal trends from 1996 to 2017. A ...

Missouri’s Third Class County Budget Trend Analysis: Workbook User’s Manual

Publication date: June 1, 2016

The electronic workbook, Third Class County Budget Trend Analysis: 1996–2013, is a set of spreadsheets, or workbook, that enables Missouri third-class counties to analyze county fiscal trends from 1996 to 2013. A county can make a detailed study of ...

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Bollinger County, Missouri — Broadband Expansion Economic Benefit Analysis (PDF)

This study estimated the 10-year economic benefits that would result from expanding fixed broadband adoption in Bollinger County, Missouri.

Economic Benefits of Expanding Broadband in Select Missouri Counties (PDF)

This study estimated the 10-year economic benefits that would result from expanding fixed broadband adoption in three Missouri counties.

Executive Summary, Economic Benefits of Expanding Broadband in Select Missouri Counties (PDF)

This study estimated the 10-year economic benefits that would result from expanding fixed broadband adoption in three Missouri counties.

Henry County, Missouri — Broadband Expansion Economic Benefit Analysis (PDF)

This study estimated the 10-year economic benefits that would result from expanding fixed broadband adoption in Henry County, Missouri.

Nodaway County, Missouri — Broadband Expansion Economic Benefit Analysis (PDF)

This study estimated the 10-year economic benefits that would result from expanding fixed broadband adoption in Nodaway County, Missouri.

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Featured programs

Alianzas

The Alianzas partnership enhances the ability of communities to collaborate with the growing immigrant Hispanic population.

CARES

The Center for Applied Research and Environmental Systems (CARES) aids interested public and private parties in learning about and managing our resources.

Creating Whole Communities

Links the resources of the university's local efforts throughout the region, creating whole communities.

Labor Education Program

Developing and delivering trade union leadership in Missouri and other Midwestern states

MU Fire and Rescue Training Institute

FRTI provides comprehensive education and skills training for Missouri’s fire and emergency service responders.

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Local government and public policy

Making a difference

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Events

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News & articles

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Publications

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Resources

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Featured programs

Alianzas

CARES

Creating Whole Communities

Labor Education Program

MU Fire and Rescue Training Institute

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