Where Policy Meets Innovation

Laura Clemons founded Collaborative Communities in 2009 to bring together complex partnerships that allow the hard work of existing community groups and civic organizations to have a greater impact. 

After the catastrophic 2011 tornado outbreak in Alabama, she began using her grass-roots organizing capabilities to help communities recover from disasters in a more resilient way. 

She advises FEMA Public Assistance Applicants on best practices for how to rebuild more resiliently after a federally declared disaster and how to more effectively plan how to respond to disasters to leverage the full extent of innovation that can be achieved through the FEMA Public Assistance process.

 

Her in-depth knowledge of FEMA Public Assistance policy, combined with strategic Placemaking strategies allows her clients to make the most out of their recovery funds to not only rebuild safer but rebuild better places for people that expand economic opportunities and future smart growth.

 

Clemons' unique ability to move comfortably between the worlds of engineered infrastructure and grassroots initiatives helps her clients see the big picture, with an eye on the granular detail necessary to make their recovery efforts more successful. 

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