Why Supporter Activation Is the Key to Winning Public Hearings
Importantly, advocacy should remain authentic. Supporters should speak in their own voices and share their own reasons for supporting a project.
Measure Meaningful Participation
A packed room can be encouraging, but attendance alone doesn't tell the whole story.
Effective supporter activation measures meaningful actions such as stakeholder conversations, new supporters, letters submitted to decisionmakers, meeting participation, public comments and testimony. These metrics provide a clearer picture of engagement and help project teams understand where additional outreach may be needed.
Start Before the Hearing
The biggest mistake project teams can make is waiting until a hearing is on the calendar to start building support.
By then, opinions may already be formed, and relationships may be difficult to establish. Starting early gives communities time to ask questions, project teams time to respond and supporters time to become informed participants in the process.
At Davies, we don't just prepare clients for public hearings. We build the support that shows up when it matters, generating supporters, turning that support into action and helping people become vocal advocates for projects they believe in.
A full hearing room can demonstrate community interest. But meaningful public support doesn’t happen overnight.
For development, renewable energy, natural resource and infrastructure projects, the strongest public participation is built months before a hearing is scheduled. It starts with listening, understanding the community, identifying potential supporters and taking action to turn that support into meaningful participation.
Support Starts With Listening
The first step is understanding the community.
That means identifying key stakeholders, researching local concerns, reviewing public comments and meeting with residents, businesses, community leaders and organizations. Early conversations can reveal questions or concerns that may otherwise surface for the first time at a public hearing.
This research helps project teams develop messages that address what matters locally, not just what matters to the developer.
Turn Community Support Into Action
At Davies Public Affairs, we don't believe identifying supporters is enough. The goal is to activate them.
That means conducting targeted outreach to generate support, building relationships with community members and organizations and creating clear opportunities for people to get involved. When appropriate, Davies helps supporters submit letters of support to the appropriate authority having jurisdiction, participate in public meetings and take other meaningful actions in the approval process.
The result is a community of informed supporters who are prepared to make their voices heard.
Turn Supporters Into Vocal Advocates
The most effective supporters are not simply names on a list. They are people who understand a project, believe in its benefits and are willing to speak up.
Davies works with supporters to provide the information and preparation they need to become vocal advocates. That can mean helping them understand the public process, preparing for a hearing, answering questions or identifying the issues that matter most to them.
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S POSSIBLE
Whether you’re navigating a challenge, launching a project, or responding to pressure, we’re here to help you win. Not with theory—but with tested insight, a sharp message, and a team that’s all-in.
Contact us directly at info@daviespublicaffairs.com
Santa Barbara,CA
Los Angeles, CA
Washington, D.C.
805.963.5929
