To help local officials meet their needs—no matter what the challenge—the Vinson Institute offers the following:

Training and Development

Local officials, managers, staff, and community boards can enhance professional development by participating in a wide variety of instructional programs offered by the Institute, often in partnership with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association.

Research

Officials seeking timely, objective information related to public policy and government operations have no further to look than the Vinson Institute. Upon request, Institute faculty can conduct applied research on specific issues, in addition to providing the ongoing research that many officials have come to rely on.

Assistance

Local officials can improve efficiency and effectiveness in many areas with a little help from the Vinson Institute. The Institute offers a broad range of technical assistance services, including those for Geographic Information Systems, budgeting, service delivery, environmental management, government structure, and job classifications.

Peach State Poll

Local officials interested in their constituents' thoughts on current issues can turn to the results of the Peach State Poll to find out what they are. This public opinion survey is conducted periodically throughout the year, and results are available for download as both news releases and full-length reports.

Policy Series

Officials can stay informed about pressing issues through the Institute's Public Policy Research Series notes and reports. Data, analysis, and insight are available on such complex research topics as welfare reform, municipal annexation, and Georgia's expanding Hispanic population.

Publications

Local officials can acquire a wealth of information on a wide variety of governance and policy topics from Vinson Institute publications. The Institute's online store offers legal resources, financial guides, handbooks such as those for county commissioners and mayors and councilmembers, and a professional journal all designed specifically for local officials.