The Municipal

01/04/2026

Fabric Buildings: A proven storage solution for municipalities nationwide

For more than 25 years, the Fabric Building Division at Greystone Construction has partnered with municipalities across the United States.

12/31/2025

Twin Oaks, Mo., a small but vibrant community of just over 600 residents, is making strides – literally and figuratively – toward improving walkability. The city, located St. Louis County, recently completed the first phase of a multi-year pedestrian infrastructure project aimed at improving safety and accessibility for residents and visitors alike.

According to the city website, Twin Oaks Park was originally imagined in the early 1990s as a “pedestrian park.”

12/30/2025

Portage, Mich., is minutes away from downtown Kalamazoo and not that far from Battle Creek. It’s a busy place, where City Manager Pat McGinnis is staying on top of things – so well, in fact, that his contract was unanimously approved for renewal through July 12, 2028. And while McGinnis wasn’t born in Portage, he’s sure settled in there now.

McGinnis said he was initially attracted to public service “because I am a patriot. I love this country..."

12/23/2025

Merry Christmas from The Municipal

Warmest holiday wishes to you and your loved ones! Thank you for being a valued part of our year. May your holidays be filled with joy and cheer.

12/23/2025

Putting a hold on development seems like the opposite of what most cities and towns want to do. Most are usually seeking more development, so placing a moratorium on development seems counterproductive. But sometimes it becomes necessary, such as when growth outpaces the ability of infrastructure and public safety to keep up.

While the moratorium stopped new residential development, the city still saw the same level of growth during the first year.

12/23/2025

In 2022, Built for Zero, a national initiative movement dedicated to ending homelessness, contacted the city of Missoula, Mont., sparking targeted conversation. Built for Zero was engaging with municipalities throughout Montana, and Missoula had been interested in the program for a while. The city met with local leaders and the coalition along with Providence Hospital, which lent the initial onboarding cost for the program. After joining in the summer of 2022, Missoula has continued to ramp up its efforts, beginning Housed for the Holidays last year to help get veterans in homes. This effort continues now through January 2026.

Built for Zero was engaging with municipalities throughout Montana, and Missoula had been interested in the program for a while.

12/19/2025

Leadership Park City helps grow tomorrow’s city leaders

Leadership Park City, a program in Park City, Utah, was established 31 years ago by Myles Rademan after he attended a similar program.

12/18/2025

Grover Beach moves forward on updated Romona Garden project

Residents of Grover Beach, Calif., will have even more reasons to celebrate after the completion of the Ramona Garden project in 2026.

12/17/2025

Columbus, Neb., leaders are setting their sights on the city’s oldest neighborhoods with a new tool designed to help property owners make small, meaningful improvements one building at a time. The city has officially launched its Micro Tax Increment Financing program, more commonly known as Micro TIF, after gaining approval from the city council this fall. The initiative represents a notable shift in economic development strategy: Instead of waiting for major developers to pursue multimillion-dollar projects, Columbus is empowering its everyday residents and small businesses to breathe new life into the aging structures of the area.

Micro TIF is a way to help revitalize the historic core of the city while removing barriers that have sidelined smaller projects.

12/11/2025

Top Ten: Best places to begin a career

Deciding where to lay the foundation for a prosperous career can be stressful, especially for recent graduates.

12/10/2025

Carmel, Ind., consistently ranks among the top places in the U.S. to live, for several reasons – not least of which is the city’s annual Holidays in Carmel celebration.

Carmel, Ind., consistently ranks among the top places in the U.S., for several reasons – including the city’s Holidays in Carmel celebration.

12/08/2025

Although L. Frank Baum never specified where Dorothy Gale’s home is located, as the “Oz” series of books progressed, the author did hint that the farm was approximately 45 minutes from Topeka, Kan. That notation was good enough for the community of Wamego, now home to one of the largest Oz collections in the world.

The Oz Museum spans the 125-year history of the classic book series, iconic 1939 MGM film, and, of course, “Wicked.”