This article is part of From the President’s Desk, where I share reflections from the field, drawn from conversations with city leaders and the real-world challenges facing local governments today.
If you’re a city manager in a small to medium size city, chances are you’ve been handed more than your fair share of challenges lately. Economic shifts, whether sparked by declining industry, housing pressures, workforce disruption, or shrinking tax revenue can place a tremendous burden on already lean teams. I’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of communities across the country, and what I’ve seen time and again is that success during these moments isn’t just about managing change. It’s about leading through it.
The reality is, economic change is no longer episodic…it’s constant. What matters is how you position your city to respond. And that starts with mindset.
Cities that thrive through disruption adopt a future-facing approach. They view change not as a threat but as an inflection point, an opportunity to rethink services, revisit regulations, modernize processes, and accelerate their vision for what their community can become.
That mindset shift starts with asking the right questions:
I’ve seen communities miss out on major investments not because they lacked ambition or community support but because they couldn’t move fast enough. Outdated permitting systems, inspection delays, or a lack of staff capacity can stall momentum and frustrate the very people trying to invest in your city.
That’s where the role of a strategic partner becomes critical.
At SAFEbuilt, we help cities increase capacity without increasing overhead. Whether it’s streamlining plan review and inspections, modernizing permitting workflows, or offering flexible staffing solutions, our mission is to help you deliver excellent service without burning out your team or overextending your budget.
What I admire most about these communities is their resilience. You know how to do more with less. But sometimes, doing more requires thinking differently. It means aligning resources with your most urgent priorities, being proactive with developers, and giving your community the confidence that City Hall is open for business not just physically, but functionally.
We’ve walked alongside communities as they transitioned from manufacturing to tech, from stagnant growth to revitalized downtowns, and from budget shortfalls to smart redevelopment. The thread that runs through all of them? Leaders who said yes to change and surrounded themselves with partners who could help them get there faster.
If you’re navigating a turning point in your city, now is the time to assess, prioritize, and act. The way you respond today will shape how your community grows tomorrow.
Let’s make sure it grows strong, smart, and ready.
If your city is facing a critical moment of change, the right partner can make all the difference. Let’s talk about how SAFEbuilt can help you move forward—strategically and sustainably.