ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the more active form of engagement as it relates to the governing board of the Regional Intergovernmental Organization (RIGO). The effect of adding non-local government actors to RIGO boards is to transform these governmental institutions into intermediary institutions. Civic sector participation on RIGO boards constitutes the more deliberative genre cited and the rich tradition of such engagement at the individual local government level is easily translatable into cross-boundary organization of those governments. In a few cases citizens are appointed by the RIGO board or external governmental actors as at-large members of the governance structure. The primary federal driver for inclusion of the civic sector for many RIGOs originated with the Economic Development Act and the creation of Economic Development Districts. States are likely to require non-general-purpose local government membership on RIGO boards. The RIGO is governed by a large Board made up of multiple civic sector actors in addition to all units of local governments.
