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AltonHenley

Publications

Articles, books, and research on AI adoption, cybersecurity, open-source civic technology, and grant funding for local government.

Articles

Route Fifty

How the federal AI conversation is leaving small municipalities behind — and what they can do about it.

Route Fifty

Small towns lack dedicated IT staff and cybersecurity budgets, making them disproportionately vulnerable to ransomware attacks.

ICMA Magazine
The Next 250 Years: Open-Source Civic Technology for Small Municipalities

How open-source tools can democratize access to modern government technology for communities of every size.

Books

Ready or Not

A practical handbook on AI use in municipal government. Written for city managers and administrators who need actionable guidance, not academic theory.

Take the AI Assessment

The Knowledge Barrier

An academic analysis of AI adoption patterns across 635 local governments, based on ICMA 2024 survey data. The central finding: knowledge, not politics, is the primary barrier.

Take the AI Assessment

Open Source Guide

The Digital Innovation Gap

How small communities can leverage open-source software to modernize operations without breaking the budget. Practical tool recommendations and implementation strategies.

Take the Readiness Assessment

Administration Guide

Grant Ready

The city administrator’s guide to winning grants. Strategies for identifying, applying for, and managing federal and state funding programs like USDA, digital equity, and BEAD.

Take the Grant Assessment