Director's Message

The center is the product of a long and fruitful collaboration among the Kentucky Department for Local Government, Northern Kentucky University, and the College of Law. When it began more than twenty years ago as the Kentucky Municipal Law Center, its purpose was to complement the support state government provided to counties by providing similar support to cities in the area of municipal law. The center provided research services, training, and technical support; published a newsletter; and built a large collection of ordinances.

Eventually, the center reorganized as the Chase Local Government Law Center. In part, this reflected an expansion of the center's services and their extension to all forms of general and special purpose local governments. In addition, this reflected the center's i ntegration into the College of Law through the addition of an experiential education component for law students and a commitment to the teaching, study, and development of local government law.

The center is also an important part of Northern Kentucky University's commitment to outreach and public engagement. Through its programs and services, the center advances the university's goals to assist and support local government and community decision-making through the application of academic expertise and to address the critical and sometimes controversial issues facing our community.

The center is available to all students, practitioners, public officials, and citizens with an interest in state and local government, not just those in Kentucky. We look forward to serving you.

Phillip M. Sparkes