The 2021 ICMA Conference Proves Local Government Resilience

See Polco’s 2021 ICMA Annual Conference Photo Album

-By Angelica Wedell-

What a strong impression it made to see the resilience of local government at the 2021 International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Conference in Portland, Oregon.

The last couple of years have been among the most difficult times in collective memory. And yet the profession has forged ahead, without forsaking opportunities for career development, sharing best practices and resources, and even networking. 

With masks, health screenings, and other safety measures, this year’s conference looked a bit different than events of the past. But the spirits of resilience and perseverance were more evident than ever before.

Polco is proud to partner with ICMA to provide accurate and reliable community survey feedback to city managers. And we see so many reasons to celebrate local government leaders - whether they joined the conference in-person or virtually from home.

Shared Experiences 

“The annual ICMA conference has always been an outstanding way to learn more about local government. Every municipality is facing the same problems in one way or another. It is nice to hear how others have addressed the situations and their success. The conference is also a great way to renew old friendships and to make new ones.” - Pat Cannon, Advisor

Hope for the Future

“The desire to move forward with new tools and renewed determination was evident at the conference. It’s been a tough couple of years as many of the sessions discussed. But it was the opportunity to continue to serve in spite of obstacles that stood out. Everyone learned new skills and persevered. Hope for the future was unmistakable throughout the 2021 ICMA conference.” - Cory Poris Plasch, Vice President of Strategic Development

Resilience in Community Engagement

"As a former longtime city manager and ICMA executive board member, the annual conference is the best opportunity to engage with your professional colleagues. You share the joys and challenges of managing local government organizations and meeting the needs of community residents and stakeholders. This year, it was particularly reaffirming to hear about the increasing importance and need for strengthening resident engagement. Leaders are looking to public input to help inform decisions and for tracking performance based on the values and experiences of community members. " - Matt Fulton, Vice President of National Engagement

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