We’ve said it before, and we’ll keep saying it as time approaches to submit proposals for federal stimulus money: Communities that work together on broad-minded proposals will have a big advantage. Organizations that go it alone risk getting lost in the mix.

Collaboration within communities is critical for many reasons, including the credibility it lends to proposals. As they review proposals, government agencies will want to see well-developed strategies that advance large, sustainable goals. This means individual organizations may need to set aside some of their special interests to stay focused on grander-scale local and regional efforts. The question to ask is: How can my organization contribute to a bigger project?

MuniWireless writer Craig Settles went as far as to say that for rural communities, the only option for getting stimulus money is by working together.

In his commentary, “Will Broadband Projects Dodge the Missteps of Municipal Wireless?”, Settles called attention to communities around Heppner, Ore., that are working toward a shared network to improve emergency services. By collaborating, these communities can build a better network for less money while simultaneously planning solutions for similar issues they all face.

If you’re not sure whether you’re heading in the right direction, we at the Knight Center of Digital Excellence will try to help answer your questions.