Sumi Smith, MBA, PMP

Coordinating stakeholder engagement across the diverse and dynamic Sacramento region takes more than a contact list and a shared drive. With 28 member jurisdictions, shifting priorities, and a wide range of partners and stakeholders, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) needed a better way to stay aligned both internally across departments and externally with the jurisdictions and communities it serves. Previous tools and systems weren’t designed to capture the full complexity of stakeholder relationships, often leading to fragmented information and missed opportunities. With Consultation Manager, SACOG maintains a centralized, dynamic record of stakeholder activity that enables more intentional and coordinated engagement. This shared system helps teams avoid duplication, identify outreach gaps, and equip leadership with timely, relevant information — whether preparing for a meeting with a city manager, coordinating messaging across jurisdictions, or reporting back to the board. “Before Consultation Manager, people were holding the data in their heads. Now we have a place to put it and pick it back up when we need it. We can track the arc of a relationship. That helps us understand what’s been effective, what conversations we’ve had, and what we’ve learned—without starting from scratch every time.” — Alex Cole-Weiss, External Relations Analyst at SACOG 🔗 Read the full case study to learn more: https://hubs.li/Q03CSs2g0

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Caltrain board will consider supporting SB63 and is requesting amendments to ensure clear funding accountability. San Mateo County agencies oppose funding for transit coordination and propose shifting fund distribution. #BayAreaTransit #TransitFunding https://lnkd.in/gH3c8mtB

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In its 2024–2025 fiscal year, the California Grants Portal helped over 2 million users find the grant and loan opportunities Californians need to build their communities and fund their projects. The California Grants Portal demonstrates what effective public policy can achieve. AB 2252 (Monique Limón) prompted the California State Library to build and manage the state’s first centralized grant opportunities site, improving transparency, access, and equity across California’s grantmaking system. We’re proud to uplift the California State Library newly released annual report, highlighting their work building and managing grants.ca.gov – an essential tool for nonprofits, local governments, and communities statewide. Check out the annual report here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/gqTypSAQ

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The Institute recently launched its 10th Technology Executive cohort in partnership with California Counties Information Services Directors Association (CCISDA). The instructor-led virtual session brought together 27 participants from across California.     Led by Liza Massey, CIO - Marin County, the session focused on identifying areas for professional growth, sharing strategies for improvement, and fostering continuous leadership development. Participants exchanged insights with peers, explored additional course opportunities, and discovered resources to strengthen their professional capabilities. The current cohort is expected to graduate at CCISDA’s 2026 Fall Conference.  Visit us at https://lnkd.in/gQwvYkQg to learn more about our programs and course offerings.

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One resource I consistently recommend to California nonprofits: the California Grants Portal. After almost a decade in grant writing, it stands out as one of the strongest state-centralized grants portal I’ve encountered. It’s intuitive, comprehensive, and genuinely useful, and is highlighted as a core tool in my California-based nonprofit trainings. If your organization is interested in #StateGrants, this is an excellent first stop. #NonprofitLeadership #GrantWriting #CapacityBuilding

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Favorable for whom? "On the Medi-Cal side, before H.R. 1 we had a very favorable cost-sharing structure between the state and federal government. For the ACA expansion adult population, the federal government reimburses 90 percent of medical costs. Administrative costs for Medi-Cal eligibility are reimbursed at 75 percent. Those are among the more favorable cost-sharing arrangements available to the state. At a time when cost shifts are going in..." https://lnkd.in/gNmYQR2C

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The Municipal Information Systems Association of California names the City of Palmdale among California's leaders in municipal IT practices. The honor recognizes local government agencies that meet or surpass MISAC’s high standards in IT governance and operations. It conducted a rigorous peer-review evaluation, which examined Palmdale’s commitment to 11 categories, including strategic planning, budgeting, project management, disaster preparedness and cybersecurity. Read more at #PublicCEO bit.ly/4squRai

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We are pleased to announce that Foundation for California Community Colleges is expanding their SNAP Employment & Training program to serve additional community colleges across the state. This expansion demonstrates the continued success of using Launchpad to connect SNAP participants with education, training, and employment opportunities. This expansion reinforces their commitment to making workforce development infrastructure work for the communities that need it most.

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Tukwila becomes the first city in The Evergreen State to implement OpenGov Tax & Revenue Collection, expecting to save over 150 hours per budget cycle. https://lnkd.in/dUnu9yB5

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