Strengthening America's Counties
Healthy, safe and vibrant counties across America
The National Association of Counties is celebrating 90 years of building healthy, safe and vibrant counties across America.
Announcing 2025 NACo Achievement Award Winners
NACo is pleased to announce the winners for the 2025 Achievement Awards. Through a non-competitive application process, noteworthy programs receive awards in 18 categories that cover a vast range of county responsibilities.
Federal Reforms to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): What Counties Should Know
Regardless of population size, geography and available resources, counties are deeply invested in our residents’ health and well-being.
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, June 26
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week four of a biweekly series on key developments from the White House and Congress. Discussions will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties — from federal funding and regulatory changes to intergovernmental partnerships. Tune in for an inside look at how these evolving federal dynamics may shape county priorities, responsibilities and operations.
U.S. House passes reconciliation bill: What it means for counties
Counties should continue to advocate for county priorities to be included in the final budget reconciliation bill.
2025 Federal Policy Priorities
NACo policy positions are debated and voted on by ten policy steering committees comprising more than 1,400 county officials, along with the NACo Board of Directors and full membership. NACo supports federal policies and programs that equip county governments with the resources and flexibility needed to serve our residents effectively.
Apply Now: Peer Learning Opportunities
Applications are now open for NACo's 2025 Youth Justice Peer Exchange, held Sept. 16–18 in Pierce County, Wash. This event is an opportunity for county officials and youth justice leaders to engage in peer learning, hear from national experts, share successes and collaborate on solutions to common challenges. Click here to fill out the brief online application.
The Behavioral Health Peer Exchange invites county officials and behavioral health leaders to explore best practices, hear from experts and engage in meaningful peer-to-peer learning on key behavioral health issues. NACo will select up to 20 counties to participate Sept. 9–11 in Henrico County, Va. Applications are due Wednesday, July 23.
What We Do
Through NACo, counties engage with our intergovernmental partners, share best practices, develop leaders and save resources, building stronger counties that result in a stronger America.
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County Employees
Advocate for County Policy Priorities
Advocacy
Visit NACo‘s advocacy hub to learn about county priorities in federal policymaking, tools to help you take action and read our latest updates.
Find Solutions for Your Community
Solutions
Discover innovative solutions from NACo EDGE, access our professional development opportunities and explore our latest initiatives and resources.
Participate in a NACo Event
NACo Events
In addition to a robust slate of virtual events held throughout the year, NACo holds dozens of in-person events, from peer exchanges to fly-ins.
Telling the County Story
Through our Counties 101 curriculum and full suite of civic engagement tools, share how how counties are on the front lines, delivering vital services for our residents.
Latest News
What to Know Before You Go to NACo’s Annual Conference
Join NACo staff to learn ways to maximize your NACo Annual Conference experience and to answer your questions. The conference is the premier opportunity for county leaders to exchange cutting-edge practices, network with one another and shape our federal policy agenda for the year ahead.
2025 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition
Save the date for the 2025 NACo Annual Conference, the premier gathering of elected and appointed officials from the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs.
Unlock the Full Potential of Retirement Plans: Discover the Advantages of Today's Lifetime Income Solutions
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
A recent survey by the Nationwide Retirement Institute® revealed that roughly ¾ of Americans fear they’ll run out of money before they run out of time. (1)
Join Nationwide and NACo EDGE for a presentation that discusses how lifetime income solutions can build participant confidence. Many misconceptions surround incorporating lifetime income into retirement planning. This presentation offers positive reality checks about solutions that can help participants achieve a more secure retirement.
(1) “Century Club Insights Report,” prepared by Edelman for Nationwide, March 2025. Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Provisions of these options may vary based on plan selection and/or by state regulation. These investment options may not be available in all states. This material is not a recommendation to buy or sell a financial product or to adopt an investment strategy. Investors should discuss NRM-23166AO.1 (06/25)
Proactively Defend Your Collection Rate: How Automation Makes It Possible
Join Leah Bezanson, Patient Revenue Supervisor at Minnesota Department of Human Services and Erica Gregory, SVP & GM, Revenue Cycle Management at Netsmart, for insights on how automation can help protect collection rates, enhance accuracy and improve data visibility.
Legislative Landscape: Prescription Drug Costs & County Impacts
Curious about Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) and how they impact your county’s pharmacy benefits? This webinar from NACo's Public Promise Insurance breaks down what PBMs do, why they matter to counties, and how new legislation may reshape the cost and delivery of prescription drugs.
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, July 24
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week five of a biweekly series on key developments from the White House and Congress. Discussions will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties — from federal funding and regulatory changes to intergovernmental partnerships. Tune in for an inside look at how these evolving federal dynamics may shape county priorities, responsibilities and operations.
Get Involved
Engage with Our Programs & Initiatives
Explore our directory of programs and initiatives and find opportunities to get involved with NACo. The directory is your playbook for NACo's committees, initiatives and tools for counties.
Conference
2025 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition
Save the date for the 2025 NACo Annual Conference, the premier gathering of elected and appointed officials from the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs.
Get Your County’s Competitive EDGE Today
NACo EDGE delivers value-added, cost-cutting solutions to counties by evaluating their needs and harnessing the collective purchasing power of 3,069 counties with a dedicated workforce of 3.6 million employees.
Stay up-to-date on America's counties with NACo's award-winning County News.
Diversion project spells relief from Fargo-area flooding
After suffering several top-10 worst floods in just a few years, Cass County, N.D. citizens voted for a sales tax that funds a massive diversion project that should protect the growing region from the Red River’s swells.
As Washington zeroes in on disasters, counties must stay at the table
"From FEMA to Congress, there’s a growing appetite for reform. That’s good news. But let’s be clear: Reform without local input isn’t reform, it’s a missed opportunity."
Pacific Northwest counties prepare for ‘The Big One’
Counties in Oregon and Washington are preparing for the devastating earthquake and tsunami that scientists say is coming in the next 50 years.
Insurance incentives fortify against disasters
La. insurance commissioner: "The federal government needs to look at what Louisiana and other states are doing when it comes to prioritizing funding and resources for individuals and state and local governments that are building resiliently."
Podcast: Life after coal for one county
Commissioner Melody Villard and Economic Recovery Corps Fellow Sasha Nelson discuss the transition Moffat County, Colo. planned to diversify its economy after the closure of coal mines and a power plant decimated its property tax revenue.
Podcast: The CIO Reserves
Greenbrier County, W.Va. Commissioner Tammy Tincher, Cook County, Ill. CIO Tom Lynch and NACo CIO Rita Reynolds discuss the pilot CIO Reserves program, which offers IT experts to help rural counties assess their technology and cybersecurity needs.
Podcast: Artificial intelligence and county government
Shinica Thomas, a Wake County, N.C. commissioner and a member of NACo's AI Exploratory Committee, talks about her process for learning about artificial intelligence, its limits and challenges and some applications for use in county government.
Podcast: Heavier truck proposals in Congress threaten county bridges
Johnson County, Texas Commissioner Rick Bailey spent 35 years in the trucking industry prior to running for office, and he offers two perspectives to the County News Podcast on the issue backed by his experience, but there’s no reason to save the surprise — he doesn’t approve of proposals to increase the weight limit on trucks.
Podcast: Counties find homes in the midst of a housing crunch
Allegheny County, Pa. Director of Housing Strategies Ed Nusser introduces the 500 in 500 initiative for moving people out of shelters and NACo’s Mike Matthews discusses the county role in developing housing affordability.
Podcast: Challenges mount for counties facing disasters
Clay County, Iowa Supervisor Barry Anderson joins the County News Podcast to describe the compounding effects from a generational flood his county seat faced in June.
Podcast: James Gore on getting stuff done
NACo President James Gore joins the County News Podcast to talk about what brought him to county government, the challenges Sonoma County, Calif. has faced while he has been a member of the Board of Supervisors and and how he views county government.
Podcast: Mental health and the criminal justice system
Miami-Dade County, Fla. Administrative Judge Steve Leifman joined the County News Podcast to outline systems that can be put in place in counties across the country.
Podcast: ForwardTogether during National County Government Month
NACo President Mary Jo McGuire spoke to the County News Podcast about National County Government Month seen through the prism of her presidential theme: ForwardTogether — connect, inspire and lead.
Podcast: Making intergovernmental connections at NACo's Federal Agency Expo
A handful of county officials and a federal exhibitor talked on the County News Podcast about the connections they hoped to make and what they hoped to learn during the Federal Agency Expo at the NACo Legislative Conference.
Podcast: Election officials talk shop
The hosts of High Turnout, Wide Margins join NACo's inaugural podcast to discuss how they manage elections in Boone and St. Louis counties in Missouri, what elected officials should know about election administration and more.
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.