About Municipal Innovation Alliance
We help small-town administrators build capacity in technology, grants, and strategic planning—so they can do more with less and prepare their communities for the future.
The Challenge
Small municipalities face big challenges with limited resources.
In towns under 10,000 residents, administrators and clerks often wear five hats at once. They’re the de facto IT department, grant writer, HR director, and strategic planner—all while keeping daily operations running. There’s rarely budget for consultants, little time for professional development, and few peers nearby who understand the unique pressures of the job.
Meanwhile, technology is evolving faster than ever. Grant programs are increasingly competitive. Councils expect more with less. And emerging tools like AI promise transformation but feel out of reach for communities without dedicated staff to evaluate and implement them.
The organizations that serve local government tend to focus on mid-sized and large cities. Small towns are often left to figure things out on their own.
We started Municipal Innovation Alliance to change that.
Our Mission
Municipal Innovation Alliance exists to empower administrators in small communities with the knowledge, tools, and peer support they need to lead effectively.
We focus on four areas where small municipalities need the most help:
- Technology & IT — Making smart technology decisions without an IT department
- Grants & Funding — Finding and winning funding to stretch limited budgets
- Strategic Planning — Building roadmaps that fit small-town realities
- AI & Automation — Preparing communities for what’s next
We believe that the size of your community shouldn’t determine the quality of your resources or the support you receive.
Our Approach
We’re not here to sell you software or push generic solutions. We’re here to help you solve real problems.
Practical over theoretical. Everything we offer is designed for administrators who don’t have time for fluff. Our resources are actionable, our advice is grounded in real-world experience, and our templates are ready to use.
Right-sized for small communities. We understand that a town of 3,000 operates differently than a city of 300,000. Our guidance accounts for limited staff, tight budgets, and the unique dynamics of small-town governance.
Peer-powered. Some of the best insights come from others who’ve faced the same challenges. Our community connects you with administrators across the country who understand your world.
Vendor-neutral. We don’t take commissions or push products. When we recommend something, it’s because we believe it’s genuinely useful for you.
Who We Serve
Municipal Innovation Alliance is built for the people who keep small communities running:
- City and town administrators
- Municipal clerks
- Village managers
- Township supervisors
- Finance officers and treasurers
- Other appointed staff in small local governments
If you work for a municipality under 10,000 residents and you’re looking for practical help with technology, grants, planning, or preparing for the future—you’re in the right place.
Meet the Founders
[COFOUNDER NAME]
[TITLE] — Grants & Strategic Planning
[COFOUNDER NAME] brings [NUMBER] years of experience in municipal government, including roles as [ROLES] in [COMMUNITIES/REGION]. [He/She/They] has [SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS—e.g., “secured over $X million in grant funding,” “led strategic planning processes for X communities,” “managed operations for towns ranging from X to X residents”].
[PERSONAL NOTE—e.g., “Having started as a clerk in a town of 800, [he/she/they] knows firsthand what it’s like to be the only person in the office figuring things out.”]
[Optional: brief personal touch—where they live, connection to small towns, etc.]
[YOUR NAME]
[TITLE] — Technology & AI
[YOUR NAME] has spent [NUMBER] years in technology and consulting, working with [TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS/INDUSTRIES]. [He/She/They] specializes in [SPECIFIC AREAS—e.g., “helping organizations make smart technology decisions,” “translating complex technical concepts for non-technical leaders,” “implementing practical solutions that work within real-world constraints”].
[PERSONAL NOTE—e.g., “After seeing how many small organizations struggle with technology decisions, [he/she/they] became passionate about making expert guidance accessible to those who need it most.”]
[Optional: brief personal touch]
Why We Started MIA
[ORIGIN STORY PLACEHOLDER]
Option A (based on cofounder’s experience):
“After [NUMBER] years working in municipal government, I kept seeing the same pattern: small towns struggling with challenges that larger cities had entire departments to handle. When I’d look for resources or peer support, almost everything was designed for bigger communities with bigger budgets. I knew there had to be a better way.”
Option B (based on a specific moment):
“The idea for MIA started when [SPECIFIC STORY—e.g., ‘a clerk in a town of 2,000 told us she was responsible for cybersecurity but had never received any training,’ ‘we watched a small community miss out on a grant because they didn’t know it existed until the deadline passed,’ etc.]. That moment crystallized what we’d been sensing: small communities deserve better support.”
Option C (based on the gap in the market):
“We kept meeting talented, dedicated administrators who were doing incredible work with almost no support. The big associations served larger cities. The consultants were too expensive. The resources were too generic. We built Municipal Innovation Alliance to fill that gap.”
[CHOOSE OR CUSTOMIZE ONE OF THESE OPTIONS]
Our Vision
We envision a future where every small community has access to the expertise, resources, and peer support they need to thrive—regardless of their budget or staff size.
Where administrators don’t have to figure out technology alone. Where grant opportunities don’t slip through the cracks. Where strategic planning isn’t a luxury reserved for larger cities. And where emerging tools like AI help small towns punch above their weight instead of leaving them behind.
We’re building Municipal Innovation Alliance to make that future a reality—one community at a time.
Join Us
Whether you’re a seasoned administrator or new to the role, we’re here to help.
Start with a free account to access introductory resources and see what the community is about. Upgrade to a paid membership for full access to our resource library, peer community, and member benefits.
Questions? Get in touch—we’d love to hear from you.