IJIS Institute Partners with National Association of Regional Councils

June 9, 2010 - PRLog -- The IJIS Institute, a nonprofit organization that focuses on mission-critical information sharing for justice, public safety, and homeland security, welcomes the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) as its newest Alliance Partner.

NARC serves as the national voice for regionalism by advocating for regional cooperation as the most effective way to address a variety of community planning and development opportunities and issues. NARC’s member organizations are composed of multiple local governments that work together to serve American communities - large and small, urban and rural. NARC membership includes: regional councils; region-wide associations of local governments -- councils of government; regional planning and development agencies; and metropolitan planning organizations.

For over 40 years, NARC has represented the interests of its members and has advanced regional cooperation through effective interaction and advocacy with Congress, federal officials, and other related agencies and interest groups. NARC’s agenda includes, but is not limited to, transportation, community and economic development, the environment, homeland security and regional preparedness, and a variety of community issues undertaken by its member organizations. NARC provides its members valuable information and research on key national policy issues, federal policy developments, best practices, and conducts enriching training sessions, conferences, workshops and satellite telecasts.

The IJIS Institute relies heavily on partnerships with key practitioner organizations, national associations, other nonprofit organizations, and universities in its effort to harness the expertise of industry in working toward improved information sharing between organizations involved in justice, public safety, and homeland security. The members of the IJIS Institute’s Alliance Partner program are organizations that share the belief that information sharing is a national priority and the conviction to work together in partnerships to address this national need.

Paul Wormeli, executive director of the IJIS Institute, noted, “NARC has already provided the IJIS Institute with a taste of its expertise by instructing a session at the Winter 2010 Industry Briefing. There are many more areas of collaborative opportunity that we have identified and I look forward to working with NARC and its membership to further information sharing nationwide.”

Fred Abousleman, the executive director of NARC, said, “The regionalization of safety and security is ongoing and growing as is the complexity of providing safe and secure communities. As such, the effectiveness of the services we provide our local government constituents and elected officials can only be realized through new partnerships. The IJIS Institute provides a clear and exciting opportunity for us to partner and link industry leaders with our members to enhance the security community.”

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The IJIS Institute unites the private and public sectors to improve critical information sharing for those who protect and serve our communities. The IJIS Institute provides training, technology assistance, national scope issue management, and program management services to help government fully realize the power of information sharing. Founded in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with national headquarters on The George Washington University Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn, Virginia, the IJIS Institute has grown to more than 290 member and affiliate companies across the United States. For more information visit www.ijis.org.