Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments

UCPCOG's Planning and Development Services Department attended the City of Wilson's Arbor Day celebration today at Wiggins Mill. Congratulations to Wilson Energy for their first ever Tree Line USA certification. We are proud to have partnered with city staff to help support this effort and their ongoing urban and community forestry goals. #arborday #City of Wilson

Congratulations UCPCOG AAA!! A public demo of AskAshleigh can be found at https://www.novitalis com/askashleigh #aging #northcarolina #government #ai

For anyone in a career transition, from federal government or other, consider local government. Check out the guide below, or reach out to me reach out to me and I’d be happy to share about my experience. Thanks Lori Sassoon, ICMA-CM and ICMA - International City/County Management Association for this resource!

WIOA reauthorization needs to add to the tools a workforce board uses to meet this moment, not limit them.? Brad Turner-Little, President and CEO of #NAWB, shares what was missing from this week's House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development hearing, Strengthening WIOA:?Improving Outcomes for America’s Workforce. https://lnkd.in/efdgu5dq #WIOA #workforcematters

Check out the latest news in our monthly newsletter here: https://conta.cc/3DkhLXG #newsletter #uptodate #intheknow #goodnews

Tri-COG FEEDS Quarterly Call: Farm + Food Finance Dear Tri-COG FEEDS Partners, ? We will be holding a series of conversations this year, focused on the Tri-COG FEEDS Implementation Plan to continue to engage as a region on these important topics. The first session will focus on Goal 4: Farm and Food Finance. This will be held virtually on March 27 at 1:00pm via zoom (registration below). ? Hosted by Melissa Levy, a Regional Development Researcher at the NADO Research Foundation, this conversation will delve into the innovative financing strategies farm and food organizations in our region/surrounding counties are utilizing. With a focus on regional economic resilience, Ms. Levy will guide us through this topic alongside two organizations actively working in this area: The Piedmont Regional Triad and Croatan Institute. ? What you'll gain from attending: Description of the Piedmont Regional Triad's new initiative: Growing Food Finance in the Triad by Jennifer Bedrosian An understanding of the financial tools and resources provided by Croatan Institute Networking opportunity with other professionals dedicated to the advancement of regional economic health ? This is an opportunity to join partners in critical dialogue about the future of our local food economy. Please register to confirm your attendance. ? Register in advance for this meeting: https://lnkd.in/emyEjdXQ ? We hope to see you there! ? Best regards, ? The Tri-COG FEEDS Team Get the registration link here: https://conta.cc/4i405OG

We know that approx. 8% of local government employees are under the age of 30. How do we bridge the gap? ICMA - International City/County Management Association has created a complimentary guidebook for career-changers looking to break into local government management. Not only is it a helpful guide for those wanting to change careers, but even provides incredible information for those about to graduate high school or even college. Let's share this far and wide. (For the PDF, just send me a message or go to ICMA's page.) #localgovernment

Check out the latest in our February newsletter here: https://conta.cc/42Gz13q #latestnews #newsletter #uptodate #goodthings

?? In a recent conversation with Grant Roberson, Director of Communications for The City of Rocky Mount, we explored the transformative role of Citibot in enhancing municipal communication and service delivery. One key insight Grant shared was the seamless integration of Citibot with existing backend systems, which significantly enhances data utilization and operational efficiency. Grant noted, "The dashboard truly is where the excitement is. It provides easy takeaways and validates the whole existence of the bots." This aha moment underscores the power of data-driven decision-making in local government, allowing departments to validate their efforts and explore new avenues for improvement. By anticipating questions before they're even asked, departments can proactively address community needs. ?? Citibot's AI-powered chat solutions are specifically designed for government use, offering smart text messaging, web chat, and interactive text alerts. These tools not only enhance efficiency but also improve customer service by allowing residents to receive instant answers, submit service requests, and engage on their own terms. As Grant highlighted, this capability serves as a "customer service complement to the Frontline," enabling more effective and calming interactions with residents. "Transforming Governmental Services with Citibot," whitepaper illustrates how cities such as City of McAllen, TX, City of Perry, GA, and Opelika are leveraging AI to boost customer service, collect feedback, and measure success, https://lnkd.in/gpSgb59k. Discover more about how Citibot is revolutionizing government services and assisting local governments in engaging with their communities. #municipalinnovation #smartcities #aiingovernment #citibot