Ready or Not
Resource Directory
Organizations, tools, and resources for local government AI adoption. All vendor-neutral. Current as of early 2026.
back to Ready or NotNational Organizations
GovAI Coalition
Template AI policies, vendor FactSheet, contract language, AI Contract Hub, procurement committee, peer learning community.
Cost: Free. Best for: Any community seeking governance templates, vendor evaluation tools, or peer connections.
ICMA (International City/County Management Association)
AI conference sessions, publications, communities of practice, readiness resources, the 2024 AI survey data.
Cost: Membership-based (many resources available to non-members). Best for: City and county managers seeking peer learning and professional development.
NACo (National Association of Counties)
AI County Compass toolkit, governance guidance, implementation resources, risk assessment frameworks.
Cost: Membership-based. Best for: County governments seeking county-specific guidance.
U.S. Conference of Mayors
AI Strategy Roadmap (2025), AI Playbook (2026), convenings of mayoral technology advisors.
Best for: Cities with mayoral governance structures.
National League of Cities
Technology policy resources, convenings, advocacy on technology issues affecting cities.
Research Organizations
Urban Institute
Research on AI in local government, the three-tier framework referenced throughout this book, policy analysis.
Key publication: “A New Approach to Helping Local Governments Navigate Generative AI” (Prinvil, Stern, & Ramos, 2025).
Roosevelt Institute
Research on AI’s impact on government workers.
Key publication: “AI and Government Workers: Use Cases in Public Administration” (Shorey, 2025).
MissionSquare Research Institute
Workforce surveys, AI impact research, state and local employee data.
Key publication: “Artificial Intelligence in the Workforce” (2025).
CivicPulse
Research on digital capacity and technology adoption in local government, with data on the digital divide between large and small communities.
Deloitte Center for Government Insights
Research on AI scaling in government, case studies, implementation analysis.
Key publication: “Scaling Gen AI in Governments” (Chaurasia et al., 2025).
State-Level Resources
State Municipal Leagues
Every state has a municipal league that serves local governments. Many are developing AI-specific resources including model policies, training workshops, legal guidance, and peer networking. Contact your state league directly to ask what’s available.
State Technology Offices
Many states have chief technology officers, digital services teams, or innovation offices that may provide technical assistance to local government. Availability varies widely by state.
Policy Templates & Frameworks
NIST AI Risk Management Framework
The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s framework for managing AI risks. The GovAI Coalition’s templates are aligned with this framework.
Published Municipal AI Policies
The following cities have published AI policies that can serve as reference (not wholesale adoption):
- Tempe, Arizona — Ethical Artificial Intelligence Policy (June 2023)
- Boston, Massachusetts — Interim Guidelines for Using Generative AI (May 2023)
- San José, California — Generative AI Guidelines and AI Inventory
- Long Beach, California — Generative AI Use Policy
- San Francisco, California — AI Guidelines with risk-based framework
- Seattle, Washington — AI Policy (2025)
Training Resources
Vendor-Neutral AI Literacy
- ICMA University — Online and in-person courses
- State municipal league workshops — Check your state league’s calendar
- GovAI Coalition webinars — Free, recorded, and available on demand
General AI Literacy
Many free online resources exist for basic AI literacy. Look for courses covering what AI is and isn’t, how generative AI works (conceptually), limitations and risks, and basic prompt engineering for productivity.
Key Publications
| Title | Author / Org | Year |
|---|---|---|
| AI in Local Government: 2024 Survey Results | ICMA | 2024 |
| “A New Approach to Helping Local Governments Navigate Generative AI” | Urban Institute | 2025 |
| “Scaling Gen AI in Governments” | Deloitte | 2025 |
| “AI and Government Workers” | Roosevelt Institute | 2025 |
| “Local US Officials’ Views on AI” | Hatz et al. | 2025 |
| AI County Compass | NACo | 2024 |
| “Measuring the Impact of AI on Developer Productivity” | Becker et al. (METR) | 2025 |
Cooperative Purchasing Programs
- E&I Cooperative Services — Government procurement cooperative
- NASPO ValuePoint — State-negotiated contracts accessible to local government
- State-specific cooperative purchasing programs — Check with your state procurement office
- GovAI Coalition AI Contract Hub — View peer jurisdictions’ active AI contracts
This directory is current as of early 2026. Organizations, URLs, and offerings change. Verify current availability before relying on any listing.
© 2026 Alton Henley. Ready or Not.
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