Public Involvement: A Communications Tool
There are many reasons to get the public involved in your project. Sometimes its mandated by a government agency. Sometimes you need to test or build support for a new program. Sometimes you fear advocacy groups or concerned citizens will derail your project.

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These are negative reasons to use about public involvement, but there also positive reasons. By working with the community, which includes stakeholders, advocacy groups, and individuals affected by your project or program, you gain valuable insights. Public involvement, if done right and started at the right point, can strengthen your project in many ways:
  • generate good ideas from stakeholders and the community that you may have missed
  • head off negative reaction, often caused by not involving the public in the early phases of the project
  • show public officials you value community input
  • identify valuable partnerships with community groups, advocacy organizations and businesses