‘Brilliant Ideas at Work,’ theme for NCGM (April) celebrates innovation

National County Government Month rallies around brilliant county ideas that improve quality of life

NACo President Bryan Desloge announced that “Brilliant Ideas at Work” will be the theme for this year’s National County Government Month (NCGM) celebration in April. The theme provides NACo members with an opportunity to showcase programs and initiatives that help to create healthy, vibrant and safe counties across America.

“Counties overcome complex challenges, provide essential services to residents, save taxpayers money and constantly do more with less. Yet, our successes don’t receive nearly the attention they deserve,” Desloge said. “I wanted to find ways to recognize these innovations and help NACo members share best practices.

 

This year’s theme aligns with Desloge’s 2016–2017 presidential initiative: The Counties Matter Challenge: Brilliant Ideas at Work, a friendly competition to identify and share 100 examples of visionary county leadership that results in improving residents’ quality of life.

By applying for NACo’s 2017 Achievement Awards, entries will be in the running for the Counties Matter Challenge. The deadline to apply is March 27, and Counties Matter Challenge winners will be announced in May.

 “We will build an honor roll that highlights county innovation at its best,” Desloge said. “National County Government Month and the Counties Matter Challenge are opportunities not only to raise public awareness of the role counties play in our lives, but also to learn from one another.”

Each April since 1991, NACo has encouraged counties to actively promote county services and programs during this annual celebration of county government. 

---

Stay tuned for NACo’s 2017 NCGM toolkit to assist counties with planning and publicity around NCGM.  The toolkit will include planning strategies, resources for student and school involvement, a sample proclamation, a sample press release and more. For questions about NCGM, contact Brian Namey at bnamey@naco.org.