In 1981, the Florida Legislature and the Board of Regents created the Florida Institute of Government as a Type 1 Statewide Institute to enhance the effectiveness and quality of government in Florida through research, training, and technical assistance. The Institute was renamed the John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government in July 2003 to honor our executive director who passed away in May 2003. The Florida Institute of Government's Executive Office in Tallahassee and a consortium of five affiliates at state universities and community colleges receive state funds to provide low-cost, high-quality services to local governments and non-profit agencies throughout Florida.

The John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government (IOG) at Florida Atlantic University was established in 1982 as an affiliate of the Florida Institute of Government; the host organization for the IOG at FAU is the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions within FAU's College of Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs. Our ten-county service area encompasses almost 20 percent of the state's total population and includes Broward, Glades, Hendry, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties.

The Institute's Steering Committee, which meets three times a year, includes representatives from a variety of governments in our area. Steering Committee members assist staff by identifying needs, developing implementation strategies, and providing feedback on program performance. The Steering Committee and staff strive to offer programs at a reasonable cost, particularly in light of tight budgets and staff reductions in the public sector.

The Institute's staff and Steering Committee work together to identify the training and technical assistance needs of governmental units and have used the following approaches to maintaining our commitment to that goal.