National Association of Counties * Washington, DC / Vol. 30, No. 14 * July 20, 1998

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NACo President Randy Johnson accepts a gift from Mr. Sun Guizhang, vice chairman, Municipal People's Congress, Shanghai during a visit to Hennepin County, Minn. in April.

Each NACo president identifies priorities that are the focus of his or her term. President Randy Johnson sought to help counties become global, digital and sustainable. Here is a summary of NACo's accomplishments in these three areas. More detailed information on programs is contained in the County Services and Information Technology sections of this report.

Global

• NACo encouraged counties to recognize the economic realities of globalization and increase their ability to compete in the international marketplace.
• A new Globalization Advisory Committee provided attention, advice and guidance to the globalization effort.
• A formal partnership with the National League of Cities co-produced Globecon, a monthly publication focusing on local economic development efforts in the global economy and specific examples and advice on collaborative efforts between the public and private sector.
• Again with the National League of Cities, NACo co-sponsored the second annual "Achieving World Class Local Economies" conference, hosted by the city of Orlando. The conference brought together county and city leaders, authors, academics and business professionals to highlight the importance of preparing for the global marketplace, and provided "best practices" examples.
• NACo worked with George Washington University to bring together state, city and county leaders, business representatives and community based groups to develop a coordinated approach to regional globalization efforts. NACo also has begun an outreach effort to the other universities throughout the nation that have been designated as National Resource Centers for International Studies to explore possibilities for collaboration.
• A globalization clearinghouse of resources and information for NACo's library and web site is being developed by an expert in international business and economics. NACo will also produce a "how to" guidebook on globalization principles and best practices.
• Expanded leadership exchanges and visits with local officials from around the world strengthened social and economic ties between local leaders. This included the first ever invitation to any local government association in the world from the People's Republic of China. President Johnson led the delegation of county officials for three weeks in October, and NACo hosted a similar group of Chinese local elected officials in April. This was the beginning of a permanent annual exchange program with China.
• Sister Cities International began to match counties with interested partners around the world to establish mutually beneficial cultural, educational and economic partnerships. Rural areas especially desire partnering opportunities with their American counterparts.

Digital

Digital technologies increase a county's capacity to:

• communicate more effectively;
• deliver services more efficiently; and
• solve critical problems more quickly.

NACo will soon offer member counties an advanced computer mapping geographic information system (GIS) "Starter Kit" at little or no cost through a program developed with Intergraph Corporation, a NACo Premier Member partner. GIS is an effective decision-support and planning tool that clarifies complex data by displaying it in easy-to-understand visuals and graphics in print or on a computer screen. The GIS starter kit will include software, training, support and basic data.

NACo joined with its Premier Member corporate partners to provide hands-on training for various software applications at NACo conferences. Instructors guided county officials while they operated computers through real-life scenarios in order to provide first-hand experience. The County Technology Fair expanded to provide still another venue for county officials to learn about important new digital applications.

NACo joined with other organizations to assist counties with the Year 2000 (or "Y2K") computer problem. NACo, the National League of Cities, the International City/County Management Association and Public Technology, Inc., created a local government Y2K campaign that includes a Y2K Tool Kit of practical, understandable advice from the most knowledgeable people in the nation. NACo also began working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to utilize its network of extension agents to assist rural communities on Y2K issues.

Sustainable

Building communities that are economically strong, environmentally sound and socially secure is a fundamental part of the American dream.

Local officials face economic, environmental and social challenges that cross political jurisdiction boundaries, and that require multi-jurisdictional approaches. President Johnson challenged local leaders from all levels of government to work together with private business, labor and not-for-profit and service organizations.

Supporting this effort on a day-to-day basis is the mission of the Joint Center for Sustainable Communities, the historic partnership between NACo and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

As Vice President Al Gore said at the White House in December, "This is the first time in the history of the United States where cities and counties have come together to address the quality of life for all Americans." In the past year, the Joint Center has dramatically increased its capacity to assist local officials nationwide as they seek to build a sustainable future.

The Joint Center is serving as a catalyst for linking local officials to share knowledge and experiences, beginning with mayors and county officials in five regions. The first peer-to-peer match occurred in support of the flood-ravaged Red River Valley. The Joint Center also has developed a clearinghouse on sustainable development, a booklet of 10 case studies on creative approaches to collaborative community problem solving, and a guidebook on community based indicator projects. The Joint Center has established a toll free hotline (800/696-1667) to respond to inquiries from around the country.

With the support from the U.S. Forest Service and advice from the Rural Renaissance Task Force, the Joint Center will sponsor three pilot projects focusing on the unique aspects of sustainable development in small towns and sparsely populated counties.