Webinars

As states and localities compete for industry investment and jobs in an uncertain global economy, they need greater access to experts to provide guidance on the expected benefits and costs of economic development projects to make sound decisions. Presented by CSG's State Pathways to Prosperity initiative, this webinar focused on a variety of advanced analytical tools to help academic executives, industry scientists and policymakers make better evidence-based decisions on key research strategies.

Among the world's 35 richest countries, the U.S. ranks second highest in the rate of childhood poverty. Achievement gaps between the poor and the non-poor are twice as large as the achievement gap between black and white students. And cognitive differences--which vary extensively by income and poverty status--likely contribute to a young adult's accessibility to and success in college, further limiting economic and social mobility and fueling the gap between rich and poor. This webinar, presented by CSG's State Pathways to Prosperity Initiative, showcased ways state policymakers can utilize their role to reduce the impact of child poverty on educational success.

The popularity of net metering has surged among residential customers due to significant incentives by more than 40 states allowing customers to sell excess renewable power to the utility. Accompanying that growth, however, is a burgeoning debate over the most appropriate way to continue incentivizing the use of distributed and renewable energy resources in the most equitable fashion.

Last year was a busy one for states pursuing additional funding for transportation, but many challenges remain as policymakers begin a new legislative session. In this webinar, statehouse and transportation beat reporters weigh in on which states seem poised to consider new revenues this year, the political dynamics in play, the overall state transportation needs versus current revenues and innovative revenue mechanisms under consideration.

Distracted driving is a national epidemic, claiming thousands of lives on American roads every year. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 3,331 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2011. This complimentary webinar, presented by CSG South, featured panelists who addressed the latest research on the potential impact of using devices while driving, state legislative initiatives to hone distracted driving laws and updates on efforts at the federal level to reduce distracted driving accidents.