While you may know that VRSA distributes nearly $400,000 in grant funds each year to assist members in strengthening their risk management programs, you may not know that a portion of these grants are earmarked to fund continuing professional education and training.
Last year, VRSA provided nearly $40,000 in scholarship funding for these endeavors. Supporting the quality professional and personal development of our next generation of local government leaders is one way to support good governance for the future.
Megan Pittman, director of administration for the Bedford Regional Water Authority, recently completed her training.
“I was just looking for leadership training and came upon the Virginia Women’s Municipal Leadership Institute (VWMLI),” said Pittman. “I was so excited – a group of women but also in the public sector, which is a unique part of the industry different from the private, it checked all my boxes with leadership on the government side, and hopefully a huge support system.”
Each VWMLI cohort consists of 25 women aspiring to fill leadership positions in local government and includes six two-day, in-person sessions and two virtual half-day sessions.
“Each of those times we met, there was a different topic structured toward the public sector,” said Pittman.
Being able to attend leadership development training without impacting the authority’s budget made the decision even easier.
“It was a win-win,” said Pittman. “We were able to get that reimbursement and go to it for just a resource of time and not money.”
Learn more about her experience in the video below.