The fiscal challenges facing local governments won't go away soon. Here's why that's a good thing.

Find out more about the new generation of performance measures.

Cost and availability of land continue to be identified as the top barriers facing economic development; lack of capital has replaced the lack of building availability as the third most common barrier.

Portland officials believe that this approach not only produced a more effective economic development plan for a lower cost, but also improved citizen engagement.

Criteria for the AAC Award: civic engagement & collaboration; inclusion & diversity; innovation in community resources, and demonstrable impact & achievement.

Census Bureau's quarterly survey shows encouraging trend for local revenues.

Hickory, North Carolina, received a 2010 ICMA Annual Award for Community Sustainability for its Operation No Vacancy program.

A distinguished panel of ICMA members discusses how local governments are dealing creatively with the challenges of the current economic crisis.