The mission of the Local Government Program is to provide education, training and other assistance for local officals and citizens that will enable them to develop skills and to obtain timely information for meeting the changing need of their communites. The objectives of the program are to:

• provide education and training to help local officials fulfill their public responsibilities and address issues facing their communities;
• facilitate intergovernmental cooperation in areas of common interest;
• provide a forum for the sharing of inormation and expertise among local officials;
• foster applied research on issues facing our local communities;
• enhance the private sector assistance available to local governments
• assist in establishing collaborative efforts among organizations addressing issues of concern to the Program; and
• help citizens gain a better understanding of local government operations and community issues