The Virginia Institute of Government, established in 1994 by the Virginia General Assembly, provides training, technical assistance, and information resources to its member local governments. Although the Institute operates with a small permanent staff, its capabilities are enhanced by its affiliation with the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. The Center’s director serves as the Institute’s director, and the Institute draws regularly on the Center’s intellectual and technological expertise to develop and deliver services. Local governments that join the Institute make annual contributions based on population. The Institute began with 60 members and now has a membership roster of over 185 localities.
Services can be designed on a statewide basis, for several localities in a particular region, for a single locality, or for professional associations.

The Institute can provide you and your staff with practitioner-oriented training, designed for all levels of local government.

We've archived decades of The Virginia News Letter, which focuses on state-related issues.

The Institute delivers programs to your locality designed to meet the professional development needs of your employees. You can also partner with other localities in your region to develop customized programs and share the costs. Recently, for example, the Institute has held onsite classes on such topics as Performance Management & Goal Setting; Motivating Employees; Critical Conversations; Continuous Improvement; and Coaching & Mentoring.