Laura Francis

Executive Director, South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG)

Laura serves as the Executive Director of the South Central Regional Council of Governments, leading regional planning, transportation, and intergovernmental initiatives that support more than half a million residents across south-central Connecticut, including the City of New Haven. With over 30 years of public service experience—including 15 years as First Selectman of Durham—she has a distinguished record of improving governmental operations, advancing major infrastructure and sustainability projects, and forging effective partnerships across municipal, state, and federal levels.

One of her signature achievements was securing and coordinating federal, state, and intermunicipal partnerships to extend public water from Middletown to Durham, delivering a clean and reliable water supply to neighborhoods affected by contaminated wells and the surrounding areas.

Laura has championed major regional collaborations in government administration, transportation planning, public safety, emergency management, and environmental stewardship. She has served on numerous state and regional boards—often in leadership roles—including Sustainable CT, the Connecticut Town Clerks Association, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), the Council of Small Towns (COST), the Connecticut Coalition for Sustainable Materials Management (CCSMM), the DEMHS Region 2 Regional Emergency Planning Team (REPT), the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST), the Middlesex County Revitalization Commission (MCRC), and the South Central Workforce Alliance CEO Board.

She holds a BA in Political Science and Public Administration from Providence College. Laura resides in Durham, where she continues to serve her community through active involvement on local boards and commissions.