Civic AI Readiness Assessment — ME on Main Street

Civic AI Readiness Assessment

AI readiness looks different for every community. Build a strategy grounded in your people, infrastructure, and priorities.

This assessment helps civic leaders understand where their community stands across leadership, infrastructure, workforce, governance, and trust—and maps that readiness to the AI opportunities most aligned with where you are today and most likely to set you up for success tomorrow.

8–12 MinutesEstimated Completion

6 Modules41 Questions

FreeCommunity AI Readiness Profile

Classic American city hall at golden hour with community members in the foreground

Getting Started Step 1 of 10

Context

Tell us about your role and community.

Three quick questions to help us frame your results accurately.

Question 1

How would you describe your role?

Elected official (mayor, council member, commissioner)
City or county administrator / manager
Department director or senior staff
Economic development or planning professional
Community organization leader
Other

Question 2

What is the approximate population of your city or region?

Under 25,000
25,000–100,000
100,000–500,000
Over 500,000

Question 3

What best describes your region's economic character?

Primarily urban / metro core
Suburban / mid-size city
Rural or small town
Mixed / regional hub

Module 1 of 6 Step 2 of 10

Module 1

Awareness & Leadership Alignment

Measures whether city leadership understands AI well enough to make decisions about it.

Question 1

How would you describe your city leadership's current level of AI literacy?

Strong — leadership actively engages with AI topics and policy
Moderate — some awareness, limited depth
Emerging — occasional conversations, no formal engagement
Low — AI is largely off the radar

Question 2

Has your city formally discussed AI adoption in a council meeting, strategic plan, or budget cycle in the past 12 months?

Yes, multiple times
Yes, once
It has come up informally
No

Question 3

Does your city have a designated point person responsible for technology or digital strategy?

Yes, a dedicated CTO / CIO or equivalent
Yes, a staff member with this as part of their role
Informally — someone handles it but it's not their primary role
No

Question 4

How would you rate leadership's sense of urgency around AI preparedness for your community?

High — there is active pressure to act
Moderate — interest exists but no timeline
Low — it's on the list but not a priority
None — not currently on leadership's radar

Question 5

Has your city engaged with peer cities, regional networks, or state agencies on AI policy or readiness?

Yes, actively and regularly
Yes, on a limited basis
We are aware of networks but haven't engaged
No

Question 6

Does your leadership team have a shared definition of what "responsible AI adoption" means for your community?

Yes, it is documented or formally discussed
We have informal alignment
Views are mixed or unclear
No shared definition exists

Module 2 of 6 Step 3 of 10

Module 2

Infrastructure & Digital Access

Measures the foundational digital conditions that determine whether AI can serve residents equitably.

Question 1

What percentage of your city's residents have reliable broadband access at home?

80% or more
60–79%
40–59%
Below 40% or unknown

Question 2

Does your city have a current digital equity plan or initiative in place?

Yes, active and funded
Yes, drafted but not fully implemented
In development
No

Question 3

How would you describe your city's core technology infrastructure (permitting systems, records, public services)?

Modern, cloud-based, and integrated
Partially modernized — a mix of old and new
Mostly legacy systems with some updates
Outdated and fragmented

Question 4

Does your city have a relationship with a managed IT or technology services provider?

Yes, a dedicated long-term partner
Yes, on a project-by-project basis
Informal or limited relationship
No

Question 5

Are city systems cloud-enabled or primarily on-premise?

Primarily cloud-based
Hybrid — moving toward cloud
Mostly on-premise with some cloud tools
Entirely on-premise

Question 6

Has your city assessed accessibility barriers for residents in using digital city services?

Yes, with documented findings and action steps
Yes, informally
Not formally, but it has been discussed
No

Module 3 of 6 Step 4 of 10

Module 3

Workforce Readiness

Measures whether municipal employees and local businesses have the skills to work alongside AI.

Question 1

How confident are you that your municipal staff could adopt AI-assisted tools in the next 12 months?

Very confident — staff is adaptable and tech-forward
Moderately confident — with proper training
Somewhat concerned — significant change management needed
Not confident — resistance and skills gaps are significant

Question 2

Has your city offered any digital skills or technology training to employees in the past two years?

Yes, regularly and broadly
Yes, for specific departments or roles
Once or twice, limited scope
No

Question 3

How would you describe the digital literacy of the small business community in your city?

Strong — most businesses use digital tools actively
Moderate — uneven across sectors
Low — many businesses are behind
Very low or unknown

Question 4

Is workforce reskilling a current priority in your city's economic development agenda?

Yes, a named priority with funding
Yes, discussed but not formally funded
It comes up but isn't a structured initiative
No

Question 5

Are there existing partnerships with community colleges, libraries, or training organizations you could activate?

Yes, strong existing relationships
Yes, some relationships that could be expanded
Limited — relationships exist but aren't active
No established partnerships

Question 6

How prepared do you believe your workforce is for agentic AI — tools that take autonomous action on behalf of users?

Well prepared — we have discussed automation and its implications
Somewhat prepared — awareness exists but no formal readiness
Unprepared — this is a new concept for most staff
Not on our radar

Module 4 of 6 Step 5 of 10

Module 4

Data Governance & Ethics

Measures whether the city has the policies and practices to use data responsibly.

Question 1

Does your city have a formal data governance or data privacy policy?

Yes, documented and current
Yes, but it needs updating
In development
No

Question 2

Has your city evaluated how AI vendors handle resident data?

Yes, we have a formal vendor review process
Yes, informally for some vendors
We are beginning to think about this
No

Question 3

Does your city have a process for reviewing the ethical implications of new technology deployments?

Yes, a formal review process exists
Informally — it depends on the department
We don't have a process but recognize the need
No

Question 4

How transparent is your city with residents about how their data is collected and used?

Very transparent — residents are actively informed
Moderately transparent — information is available but not proactively shared
Limited transparency
Not transparent / unknown

Question 5

Has your city experienced a data breach, cybersecurity incident, or public trust issue related to digital systems in the past three years?

No
Minor incident, resolved without significant impact
Yes, with some public or operational impact
Yes, significant incident

Question 6

Does your city have clear guidelines for staff on acceptable use of AI tools?

Yes, documented and communicated
In development
Informally — left to individual departments
No

Question 7

Is there an appeals or accountability process if a resident believes an AI-assisted decision was unfair?

Yes, a formal process exists
Informally — residents can raise concerns
No process, but we recognize the need
No, and it hasn't been considered

Module 5 of 6 Step 6 of 10

Module 5

Community Trust & Equity

Measures whether historically underserved residents will benefit from AI adoption or be further excluded.

Question 1

How representative is city leadership of the demographics of your community?

Highly representative
Moderately representative
Somewhat — gaps exist
Not representative

Question 2

Has your city engaged underrepresented communities in conversations about technology or city services in the past two years?

Yes, actively and with structured outreach
Yes, on a limited basis
Not formally, but informally
No

Question 3

Are city communications and digital services available in multiple languages?

Yes, comprehensively
Yes, for major languages spoken in our community
Partially — some materials are translated
No

Question 4

Does your city track service delivery outcomes by neighborhood, income level, or demographic group?

Yes, systematically
Yes, for some services
Rarely
No

Question 5

How confident are you that AI-assisted city services would be perceived as fair and trustworthy by all residents?

Very confident
Moderately confident
Somewhat concerned
Not confident

Question 6

Are there community organizations in your city that could serve as trusted intermediaries between residents and AI-powered services?

Yes, multiple strong community organizations
Yes, a few
Limited — community infrastructure is thin
No

Module 6 of 6 Step 7 of 10

Module 6

Vision & Momentum

Measures whether the city has the will, narrative, and near-term plan to move from readiness to action.

Question 1

Has your city identified one or two specific problems where AI could make a meaningful difference for residents within the next 18 months?

Yes, clearly identified with stakeholder buy-in
Yes, identified but not yet socialized
We have ideas but nothing concrete
No

Question 2

Does your city have a budget line or grant pipeline that could fund AI-related initiatives?

Yes, budget is allocated or grants are in progress
Possible — we are exploring options
Uncertain
No funding pathway identified

Question 3

Is your city in a position to pilot a program — even at small scale — before committing to a full deployment?

Yes, we are ready to pilot
Likely, with some preparation
Possibly — significant internal alignment needed
Not at this time

Question 4

Does your city have a way to communicate technology initiatives to residents in plain language?

Yes, strong communications infrastructure
Moderate — we communicate but not always effectively
Limited — communications is a gap
No

Question 5

How would you describe the overall change-readiness of your city's culture?

Highly change-ready — innovation is welcomed
Moderately change-ready
Change-averse — progress is slow
Resistant — significant inertia

Question 6

If AI assistance were available starting today, what is the one area where you would most want to start?

Regional Opportunity Context Step 8 of 10

Regional Context

Your Region's AI Opportunity Landscape

These questions help us match your readiness profile to the AI opportunity areas most relevant to where your community is headed.

Question 1

Is your city currently engaged with or in discussions around any of the following AI-related development areas? (Select all that apply)

Hyperscale Data Centers

Semiconductor Manufacturing

Grid Modernization

Workforce Training & Technical Education

AI Research Partnerships

Cooling & Energy Innovation

Local AI Startup & Business Ecosystems

Renewable Energy Integration

None currently

Question 2

Which of these areas do you believe your regional leadership would most likely support investing in within the next 24 months? (Select all that apply)

Hyperscale Data Centers

Semiconductor Manufacturing

Grid Modernization

Workforce Training & Technical Education

AI Research Partnerships

Cooling & Energy Innovation

Local AI Startup & Business Ecosystems

Renewable Energy Integration

Question 3

Which of these areas do you believe your residents would respond most favorably to? (Select all that apply)

Hyperscale Data Centers

Semiconductor Manufacturing

Grid Modernization

Workforce Training & Technical Education

AI Research Partnerships

Cooling & Energy Innovation

Local AI Startup & Business Ecosystems

Renewable Energy Integration

Question 4

Which of these areas do you believe would erode trust or cause dissent among your residents? (Select all that apply)

Hyperscale Data Centers

Semiconductor Manufacturing

Grid Modernization

Workforce Training & Technical Education

AI Research Partnerships

Cooling & Energy Innovation

Local AI Startup & Business Ecosystems

Renewable Energy Integration

Question 5

What is your primary concern about AI development in your region?

Public acceptance
Job impact
Infrastructure burden
Environmental impact
Unsure

Site Readiness Step 9 of 10

Site Readiness

A few more questions about your region's conditions.

Based on the opportunity areas your leadership would support, these questions help us assess your region's physical and regulatory readiness.

Grid Modernization — site readiness questions

Question BA-1

How would you describe the current age and condition of your city's electrical grid?

Modern and well-maintained
Aging but functional
Outdated with known reliability issues
Severely degraded or inadequate

Question BA-2

Has your utility provider initiated or discussed any smart grid or grid modernization programs?

Yes, actively underway
Yes, in planning stages
Discussed but not formalized
No

Question BA-3

Does your region experience significant power reliability issues or outages?

Rarely — grid is stable
Occasionally — seasonal or weather-related
Frequently
Yes, it is an ongoing issue

Hyperscale Data Centers — site readiness questions

Question BB-1

Does your region have large parcels of land zoned or available for industrial-scale development?

Yes, significant available land
Some available land
Limited — significant rezoning would be required
No available land

Question BB-2

How would you characterize your region's power capacity for large energy draws?

Strong — ample capacity exists
Moderate — some upgrades would be needed
Limited — substantial infrastructure investment required
Unknown

Question BB-3

Does your region have reliable access to water for cooling infrastructure?

Yes, abundant and reliable
Adequate but subject to seasonal constraints
Limited — water scarcity is a concern
No / Unknown

Semiconductor Manufacturing — site readiness questions

Question BC-1

Does your region have existing advanced manufacturing facilities or industrial corridors?

Yes, established and active
Some legacy manufacturing
Limited
No

Question BC-2

Is your region within reasonable proximity to a research university or national lab?

Yes, within 50 miles
Yes, within 100 miles
No but regional partnerships exist
No

Question BC-3

Has your region received or actively pursued federal or state economic development designations?

Yes, received
Yes, actively pursuing
Aware of programs, not yet pursuing
No

Renewable Energy Integration — site readiness questions

Question BD-1

What renewable resources are present or developing in your region? (Select all that apply)

Solar

Wind

Geothermal

Hydro

None currently

Question BD-2

Does your region have transmission infrastructure capable of carrying renewable generation to the grid?

Yes, robust transmission capacity
Partial — upgrades would be needed
Limited — significant investment required
Unknown

Question BD-3

Are there active utility or private renewable development projects underway in your region?

Yes, multiple active projects
Yes, one or two
In early discussion stages
No

Based on the opportunity areas you selected, no additional site readiness questions are needed. Click Continue to proceed to your results.

Almost There Step 10 of 10

Your Profile Is Ready

Your Community AI Readiness Profile is ready.

Enter your details below to receive your results, including your readiness profile, module scores, and opportunity match recommendations.

Your information is used only to deliver your results and will never be sold or shared.

Community AI Readiness Profile

AI-Ready Community

Overall Score: 87%

Your community is positioned to lead regionally. Infrastructure, governance, and political will are aligned. You are ready for pilot deployment.

Module Breakdown

Opportunity Match

Schedule Your City Briefing

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ME on Main Street ← Back to ME on Main Street

AI readiness looks different for every community. Build a strategy grounded in your people, infrastructure, and priorities.

Tell us about your role and community.

Awareness & Leadership Alignment

Infrastructure & Digital Access

Workforce Readiness

Data Governance & Ethics

Community Trust & Equity

Vision & Momentum

Your Region's AI Opportunity Landscape

A few more questions about your region's conditions.

Your Community AI Readiness Profile is ready.

Schedule Your City Briefing

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