Apply Now: 2024-2025 Presidential Appointments

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Celebrate National County Government Month

This April, join us in celebrating National County Government Month (NCGM). This is an excellent opportunity for counties, parishes and boroughs to highlight effective programs and raise public awareness about our essential roles and responsibilities. Below, explore our tools to help tell the county story, inspire civic engagement and educate a wide range of audiences about county government.

All NCGM Resources

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Counties Matter: Stronger Counties. Stronger America.

Counties Matter. Counties serve nearly every American every day. Urban, suburban and rural — counties work with states, the federal government and other public and private partners to keep our communities healthy, safe and vibrant.

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The Marvelous Adventures of Countyland

The Marvelous Adventures of Countyland is an experimental publication created with generative artificial intelligence (AI). Its objectives are to showcase the capabilities of AI, to stimulate discussions regarding AI's applications in the public sector, and to inspire young people around the role of county government.

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America's County Governments: A Short Primer on Our History, Definitions, Structures and Authorities

Counties are one of America’s oldest forms of government, dating back to 1634 when the first county governments (shires) were established along the eastern shores of Virginia. Though today, the governance and organizational structures vary nationally and even within a state, all 3,069 county, parish and borough governments are on the front lines of delivering vital services to residents.

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Counties Work Game & Curriculum

NACo, together with iCivics, has created an online game and curriculum to educate students grade levels 6-12 about the important role and functions of county government. 

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Governing on the Ground

Governing on the Ground is an inside look at the complex challenges faced by officials as they strive to strengthen their communities. The book features 30 short chapters contributed by county leaders.

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Program

County Governance Project

A comprehensive guide to county government structure, authority, services and finances.

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The County Landscape

Counties are one of America’s original forms of government, dating back to 1634 when the first county governments (shires) were established in Virginia. The organization and structure of today’s 3,069 county governments are chartered under state constitutions or laws and are tailored to fit the needs and characteristics of the state and local areas.

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County Explorer Data

Explore your county through over 1000 indicators and nearly 100 datasets.

Our Top Picks

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Cost-Saving Tools

Solutions from NACo EDGE

NACo EDGE establishes sustainable, cost-saving and value-added solutions that can be applied to counties nationwide. By providing quality solutions, we strive to develop and maintain healthy, vibrant and safe counties across the United States.

Learn More

Solutions for Counties

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NACo Deferred Compensation Program

NACo's Deferred Compensation Program has helped more than 1.5 million county employees and retirees save for and live comfortably in retirement. More than 423,000 county employees from over 3,000 county agencies participate, with accumulated assets of more than $25 billion.

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Public Promise Insurance

Public Promise Insurance is a fully licensed provider that strengthens local governments. We provide voluntary benefits to public employees and their families with cost effective and best-in-class solutions.

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Public Promise Procurement

Providing public sector and other entities with a vetted, transparent option for purchasing goods and services more efficiently and cost effectively.

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Live Healthy U.S. Counties

The NACo Live Healthy Prescription, Health & Dental Discount Program is a no-cost program available to all member counties, providing relief to uninsured and underinsured Americans facing growing health costs.

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cashvest® by threeplusone®

cashvest® by threeplusone® provides a new and unparalleled level of liquidity analysis and data services for local, county, school district and community college governing bodies.

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ClearGov®

ClearGov® is the leading provider of budget cycle management software, focused on helping local governments streamline the annual budgeting process.

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Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

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NACo High Performance Leadership Academy

The NACo High Performance Leadership Academy is an innovative, completely online 12-week program created to equip frontline county government professionals with practical leadership skills to deliver results for counties and communities.

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NACo Enterprise Cybersecurity Leadership Academy

The NACo Enterprise Cybersecurity Leadership Academy is an online 12-week collaborative readiness program led by Fortune 500 CISOs and peers who deliver a proven framework and insights on leading and securing a network and an organization.

Upcoming Events

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Webinar

Insights from the Reaching Rural Initiative - Navigating Leadership, Innovation and Community Impact in Addressing Substance Use Disorder in Rural Communities

The Reaching Rural Initiative is co-sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State Justice Institute.

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Webinar

A Bright Future: Preserving Coal Community Assets with Solar Opportunities

Join NACo’s Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities (BRECC) National Network for a learning session focused on the benefits and challenges of solar energy innovation in coal communities.

Boosting the Economy
Webinar

What’s In It for Rural? Analyzing the Opportunities for Rural America in IIJA, CHIPS and IRA

This webinar will provide insights from that analysis, which will include an examination of some of the key parameters and requirements that rural counties will have to navigate to access these resources.

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Webinar

Advancing Crisis Communications: Highlighting Models of 911/988 Collaboration

Panelists will discuss progress, challenges and lessons learned from advancing their communities’ crisis response systems.

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Webinar

Counties Securing the Nation’s Elections: Handling The Rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence

During this tabletop webinar, NACo members will hear from experts on these new challenges and how counties can be proactive in addressing them this election cycle and beyond.

Treasury Department
Webinar

Counties and the Inflation Reduction Act: Elective Pay Update

On March 5, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) issued final regulations for the elective pay mechanism established in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Using elective pay, also known as direct pay, counties and other tax-exempt entities can monetize certain clean energy tax credits that they have previously been unable to access due to their lack of tax liability. On March 5, Treasury also unveiled a new proposed rule to provide criteria regarding the eligibility of certain ownership structures to claim elective pay. During this webinar, counties will hear from Treasury and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on these new regulations and other funding opportunities available under IRA.

County News

Stay up-to-date on America's counties with NACo's award-winning County News.

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County News

County pen pal program helps developmentally disabled residents

Lynn Carey, a site manager of pulmonary services at Marion General Hospital, and Maggie Purvis, a high school freshman with autism, have been mailing each other letters back and forth for six months.

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News

County shines light on property deed history of racially restrictive covenants

The Durham County, N.C. Register of Deeds is using public records information and archival documentation to educate county residents on racially restrictive covenants in property deeds and how their impact can still be felt today. 

Arati Prabhakar, director, White House Office of Science and Technology, speaks to county officials at AI Summit. Photo by Leon Lawrence III
News

Creating guardrails will be ‘essential’ to the success of AI

CFBP director: Counties should focus on the ways artificial intelligence affects residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable to AI scams, rather that becomming experts in the technical specifications of artificial intelligence.

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Get Involved

Join NACo and Lead

NACo unites nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees to advocate for county priorities, promote  exemplary county policies and practices, nurture leadership skills, optimize county and taxpayer resources, and enrich the public’s understanding of county government.

Join NACo

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