By Desiree Casanova, Assistant to the County Administrator, Sarasota County
The International City and County Management Association (ICMA), Local Government Management Fellowship (LGMF) program has been the launching pad for hundreds of local government careers. Over 300 alumni have assumed senior leadership positions in communities across the United States of America since its inception in 2004. The ICMA LGMF is a competitive program that attracts passionate and talented recent Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Public Policy (MPP) graduates with limited experience in local government. The Program matches these recent graduates also known as Fellows to cities or counties, allowing them to gain practical work experience and mentorship in a new community.
Fellows have contributed to a wide range of projects and have increased the capabilities of many local governments. Some of the projects Fellows have worked on include the facilitation of employee recruitment and hiring processes, development of police-mental health programs, supervision of interns or other staff, coordination of one-cent penny sales tax education efforts, creating capital and strategic plans, and drafting and updating city/county ordinances.
“The ICMA Fellowship Program was the pillar of my growth in local government. I was able to earn this position after working three years in a city, which goes to show that it can be for both new and experienced workers in the field. The Program truly enhanced my leadership and project management skills and provided me with the ability to attend FCCMA and ICMA conferences. I was even able to create the first ICMA Fellowship video for Sarasota County, which was a project I created on my own. This Fellowship allowed me to soar to new heights and become the Assistant to the County Administrator, which I am forever grateful for.”
The ICMA LGMF provides participants with exposure to a variety of responsibilities through a series of special assignment rotations or projects. Fellows are given a wide range of responsibilities depending on their host location. Thanks to the LGMF program, participants are on a direct path to local government leadership roles with access to upper-level management, an international professional network, and valuable professional development opportunities.
In Sarasota County, 2020 ICMA LGMF, Laurel Varnell, started her Fellowship that summer, after the County received over $79 million in CARES Act funding. She was able to assist with the CARES Business Assistance Program, providing small business grants to help local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the CARES program ended, she became the Program Manager for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and now serves as the Program Manager for Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery. The grant in the amount of $201.5 million, was award to Sarasota County to support long-term recovery efforts for Hurricane Ian.
“My ICMA fellowship was the most impactful career investment I could have made after graduating from my MPA program,” Varnell said. “The opportunities I’ve gotten in Sarasota County have allowed me to grow into my current role and develop skills for a future in public service.”
By hosting an ICMA LGMF, you can:
- Choose the length of time for your Fellowship (1-2 years).
- Choose the number of Fellows you would like to host.
- Interview and hire any applicant(s) you see fit for the position.
- Create your own work plan with specific assignments/projects that fit your organization’s goals/needs.
- Decide on a competitive Fellow pay, benefits package, and work schedule.
- Determine the start and end date of the Fellowship.
Check to see if your city/county is a host community. If your organization does not host a Fellow, consider applying at the following link below. Fellows are highly educated, highly motivated, public servants that will make your organization thrive. Because of their experiences in the program, alumni Fellows have gone on to serve as City/County Managers, Assistant City/County Managers, Directors, Managers, and more. Learn more about how participating in the ICMA LGMF Program can add capacity to your organization while fostering the next generation of public servants by visiting the ICMA website:
General information on the program can be found here.
Click here for the link to apply to host a Fellow.
