5 Expert Tech Strategies for More Efficient State & Local Government Projects
State and local governments oversee some of the most visible projects in their communities: new schools, road and bridge repairs, water infrastructure and public safety facilities.
With taxpayer trust and dollars at stake, these projects face a unique mix of scrutiny, security requirements, and operational demands. The high visibility of these projects means added pressure and little room for error.
For expert insight on modernizing capital project delivery, we spoke with Cari Stieglitz, co-founder of Kvolve: a consulting agency that helps state, local and public sector agencies manage the lifecycle of their capital projects, including adapting of project management principals, ISO 21500 and other project standards.
We also got the input of Curt Wood, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute focused on technology policy and best practices in state and local government.
"I hear stories all the time," Steiglitz says, "of people uncovering concrete pipes that they thought were metal pipes or copper pipes. We're talking very, VERY old infrastructure. Like, late 1800s, early 1900s old.
"Many times—especially if it's buried underground—people have no idea what their dealing with until they actually dig it up. And of course, surprises and projects cost money. Especially if you live in a small town, people rely on state money to do these projects.
"A disruption like that can really devastate a community."
Between the pressures of aging infrastructure, public tax dollars, and a high level of scrutiny and visibility, state and local agencies must project manage their capital projects very thoughtfully.
Read on to see five expert strategies to deal with pitfalls and opportunities.
1. Security and Compliance for State and Local Agencies
Cybersecurity is mission-critical, according to Stiglitz and Wood.
In addition to being increasingly required by law, agencies handle sensitive financial data, personal information, and records that must be protected against evolving threats. Cybersecurity authorization in tech tools, like StateRAMP authorization and CMMC alignment, the highest security and compliance standards, can go a long way toward helping agencies earn public trust.
“Government project owners constantly balance restrictions that are put in place for security with the need to create efficiencies," Stieglitz says.
For example, a city may require extra login steps for its project management system to meet state IT standards, even if contractors find it cumbersome.
Recognizing this tension helps owners set expectations, and invest in training, so teams can work securely without grinding projects to a halt.
2. Data Ownership and Transparency
Every project involves contractors, architects, engineers, and subcontractors — all producing vital information. The question of who owns that data is central.
Public owners need systems that guarantee long-term control of project records, not vendor lock-in.
That same data also powers transparency: accurate reporting to boards, commissions, and community members builds trust and helps counter public skepticism.
3. Flexibility and Agility
Public agencies rarely have the option to change their processes for a software system. The technology must adapt to them.
"The technology needs to adapt, not the people," Stieglitz says.
Flexibility is only part of the equation, though. Governments also need agility to pivot when leadership, legislation, or codes change unexpectedly. Tools that require costly vendor updates fall short.
4. Connected Systems
Disconnected systems often force contractors to re-enter the same data multiple times — errors the owner ultimately pays for.
“There will always be multiple systems, but they need to speak a common language,” says Stieglitz. “That’s how you eliminate silos and make the data useful.”
Connected PMIS solutions eliminate duplicate entry by letting each party keep its own records while sharing synchronized copies. This protects accountability while reducing cost and risk.
5. Lifecycle and Asset Handover
Construction is only the beginning of an asset’s life: critical data is often missing at handover, leading to missteps by maintanance and operations teams and extensive follow-up from owners.
Kahua takes an asset centric project management approach to give agencies a usable asset database on day one of operations, closing a historic gap.
“We don’t want to use technology to collect a mountain of data that just gets dropped in a drawer at handover,” says Stieglitz. “That information should be usable on day one of operations.”
What matters now is giving project owners practical tools that can be relied on for security, transparency and efficiency.
After all, the goal is to take away redundancies in people’s jobs, so state and local government agencies can focus on serving the public.
Looking for more specific ideas on tech strategies for state and local capital projects?
Check out our recent on-demand webinar: Efficiency in Action: Tech Strategies That Save Time and Budget on Capital Projects
