In 2007, the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) partnered with the University of Georgia to create a program connecting Master of Public Administration (MPA) students with cities in need of research assistance. This collaboration has since evolved into the GMA Local Government Practicum Program, which now works with universities across Georgia to offer valuable real-world experience to future local government managers and administrators. Through this program, cities benefit from objective analysis and recommendations that support informed decision-making.
The Local Government Practicum Program:
- Provides vital support to cities by enabling student-led research projects that may otherwise be beyond their capacity or resources to undertake;
- Fosters connections between students and cities, offering students hands-on experience while expanding their networks and cultivating relationships within local government;
- Strengthens ties between universities and cities, promoting community engagement and contributing to workforce development efforts.
Since its inception, the program has overseen more than 100 projects, including:
- Conducting housing inventories
- Executing citizen satisfaction surveys
- Evaluating stormwater utility billing procedures
- Assessing police department workloads
- Developing social media and communications plans
- Streamlining business licensing processes
- Creating performance measurement systems for city projects
- Performing revenue analyses
- Benchmarking permitting fees
- Undertaking feasibility studies, and more.
How Your City Can Get Involved
GMA accepts project proposals year-round, with two main Calls for Projects:
- December for the upcoming Spring term
- July for the upcoming Fall term
If your city has a project in mind, please review the general program guidelines at the link below. Once you're ready, you can submit a project proposal by clicking here. After submitting, GMA will confirm your project’s placement on the list.
Cities may submit multiple proposals but must complete a separate form for each project. Not all projects may be assigned in a given term. If your project isn’t selected, GMA will check with you about keeping it on the list for the next term.