October is a month of change. The leaves turn color, the air gets crisp, and we start to think about the holidays ahead. It’s also a month of reflection and preparation for local government professionals.

As we enter the fourth quarter of the year, it’s important to take some time to assess our progress and make sure that we’re on track to meet our goals. We should also think about the challenges and opportunities that the coming year will bring.

Here are a few tips for local government professionals as we welcome October:

• Review your progress. Take some time to review your progress towards your goals for the year. What have you accomplished so far? What are still your top priorities? What challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?
• Plan for the future. Think about the challenges and opportunities that the coming year will bring. What new initiatives do you want to launch? What existing programs do you need to improve? What resources will you need?
• Communicate with your community. Keep your community informed about your progress and plans. Let them know what you’re working on and how they can get involved.
• Celebrate your successes. It’s important to take the time to celebrate your successes, both big and small. This will help you stay motivated and focused on your goals.

October is also a great time to focus on specific local government initiatives. For example, many local governments have a focus on sustainability in October. This is a great time to launch new sustainability initiatives or to promote existing programs.

Already set for sustainability? Here are some more ideas:

• Community engagement. October is a great time to focus on community engagement through public meetings, surveys, or other methods. Feedback will help leaders learn more about constituent priorities.
• Public safety. October is Crime Prevention Month. Also, it’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, National Fire Prevention Month, and National Bullying Prevention Month. If your community has crime prevention programs, community outreach, or other initiatives, those are all good places to start.
• Economic development. October is National Women’s Small Business Month, and more generally, National Economic Education Month. Local governments can lean into these through business attraction programs, job training programs, mentor/internships or other initiatives. Do you or your partners have programs you can highlight in October?

We hope these tips help our local government professional friends make the most of October and prepare for a successful year ahead!