The Rural County Governance Center provides rural public officials with information on emerging and current issues facing rural communities in the 21st Century.  NACo, with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, initiated the Center to increase the capacity of rural county elected officials to develop and sustain vibrant rural communities.

For more information, comments, or suggestions about the Rural County Governance Center, please contact Erik Johnston at 202-942-4246 or ejohnston@naco.org.

12/04/2008 - Economic Stimulus Letter - Campaign for a Renewed Rural Development

11/15/2007 - County Rural-Urban Network
Learn more about the NACo's ongoing facilitation of a national dialogue among rural and urban county elected officials.

11/05/2007 - Rural Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
NACo encourages information sharing with county governments about innovative rural entrepreneurship and economic development techniques and strategies. Recent workshop presentations are available on the site.

11/11/2007 - Energizing an Entrepreneurial Economy: A Guide for County Leaders (pdf)
This guide has been prepared specifically for the membership of NACo. It is intended to extend to county government leaders useful information, insights, and examples about how to energize an entrepreneurial economy, and achieve more dynamic and successful economic development through entrepreneurship.

03/23/2007 - Energizing Young Entrepreneurs in Rural Communities
This publication brings together significant work on youth entrepreneurship completed by the staff of the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship and the staff of HomeTown Competitiveness.

03/21/2007 - Rural development takes center stage in NACo testimony
Federal rural development policies and programs need to be updated and fully funded for the nation’s rural communities to compete in today’s global marketplace.

03/13/2006 - Rural County Innovation, Collaboration Discussed at Forum (PDF)
This County News article details NACo member involvement in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2006 Agricultural Outlook Forum. NACo President-elect Colleen Landkamer discussed examples of effective rural-urban partnerships and member county, Miner County, S.D. provided an excellent example of rural innovation.

Campaign for a Renewed Rural Development launches website
The NACo-led Campaign for a Renewed Rural Development has launched this Web site to provide the latest information about the coalition’s efforts to secure a strong, fully-funded rural development title in the farm bill.

Rural Links Overview
Provides links to a list of government and private groups available to assist with rural issues.