Strengthening America's Counties
Healthy, safe and vibrant counties across America
Our Top Picks
2024-2025 Presidential Appointments
View the 2024-2025 Presidential Appointments. To learn more on how to get involved, visit NACo.org/GetInvolved.
County News: 2024 NACo Annual Conference
Sonoma County’s James Gore takes the lead at NACo
Surrounded by his family, Sonoma County, Calif. Supervisor James Gore was sworn in July 15 as NACo’s new president at the association’s Annual Business Meeting at the Tampa Convention Center in Hillsborough County, Fla.
Olympic gymnast: ‘Check your ego at the door’ to excel at teamwork
Three-time Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes championed teamwork, saying “checking your ego at the door” is the key to success, at NACo’s General Session on July 14.
Counties could heal dissatisfaction with democracy
When political tension threatens to further divide Americans, it falls to county governments to build on the connections and demonstrate the responsiveness that engenders trust and confidence.
Policy priorities to improve mental health unveiled in NACo commission final report
The NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing outlined its policy priorities to improve mental health in its final report unveiled Saturday, July 13 at the Annual Conference.
Public Leadership in the Arts Award goes to Mobile County commissioner
Surrounded by her peers Saturday, July 13, Mobile County, Ala. Commissioner Merceria Ludgood received the Public Leadership in the Arts Award from Americans for the Arts at a reception held at the Tampa Museum of Art during the NACo Annual Conference.
Tareq Azim shares strength borne by fear
Author, coach and entrepreneur Tareq Azim spoke about confronting fear and changing narratives during the Opening General Session.
CISA offers tools to protect you and your county
Disinformation campaigns by foreign adversary bots, rumors flying on neighborhood message boards, increasingly partisan politics all play a part in making for a more unsafe world for county officials.
County, Native Americans work together to create ‘cultural tourism’
Coconino County, Ariz. and the Navajo Nation have built a partnership together to create cultural tourism initiatives, both educating visitors on Native American history and traditions and benefiting the local economy.
A key to managing disasters: Targeted communication
Define your risk communication audience and outcome, understand your priority audience and connect with that audience.
Collaboration and mental health support address youth substance use disorder
Counties are investing in education, harm reduction and peer support recovery to combat unintentional overdoses.
Most foreign-owned ag land remains in friendly hands
Despite cycles of concern about foreign ownership, less than 4% of U.S. private agricultural land is owned by foreign entities, and only 12 states have enacted laws limiting foreign ownership.
Public agency expands first responder network
Twenty-three years after the 9/11 tragedy, a public agency created in its wake to help better connect first responders during emergencies is continuing to ramp up improvements to its networks.
Artificial intelligence teases agricultural “revolution”
A University of Florida researcher sees great potential for artificial intelligence to help overcome agriculture's labor shortage.
NACo Annual Conference to drop anchor in Florida
The 2024 NACo Annual Conference will draw more than 3,000 county officials July 12-15 to Hillsborough County, Fla. where they will swap solutions and address the challenges facing local governments.
Conference
County Crossroads Symposium: A Mobile Journey Exploring the County Landscape
NACo’s fall symposium, jointly hosted by the Board of Directors, Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) and Rural Action Caucus (RAC), will feature mobile workshops and engaging opportunities for all counties.
State Funding for County Behavioral Health Crisis Services: Examples and Opportunities
This webinar is hosted by the National Association of Counties (NACo) in partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts and the MacArthur Foundation.
NACo Cyberattack Simulation: Financial Access
Financial transaction systems are prime targets for cyber threats due to the value and sensitivity of the data. This cyber simulation assesses risks and fortifies safeguards within financial access systems.
A Better Path to Priority-Based Budgeting: How Do We Get There and What’s the Payoff?
Seeking to modernize budgeting, local governments are looking to priority-based budgeting to enable budget decisions that relate directly to their priorities and save money. This session will explore the steps toward priority-based budgeting, obstacles, and payoffs.
Unlock the Power of CJCCs: Responsive Policies Through Community Engagement
Active community collaboration is crucial for shaping county operations and policy priorities. Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils (CJCCs) are one approach to ensure that community members are involved in county governance. Many counties form CJCCs to identify systemic challenges and work across stakeholders to guide local policy to improve public safety.
In this webinar, NACo explores how ongoing and consistent community engagement enhances the impact of CJCCs and how these bodies can serve as effective tools for county leaders to actively involve their residents. Learn from real-world examples and discover strategies to create a more responsive and inclusive criminal legal system.
Unlock the Power of Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils is NACo’s series on how counties can develop and leverage CJCCs to more effectively administer and strengthen their criminal legal system. Learn more at NACo’s CJCC Resource Hub.
AI in County Government: Today's Impact and Tomorrow's Potential
Join us for a 1-hour roundtable discussion where county leaders discuss the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in county government services – both now and tomorrow. Our speakers will cover strategies to overcome barriers to entry, share real county use cases, and explore the challenges of integrating AI. We'll also highlight emerging technologies and how county governments can start building a strong foundational understanding of AI before planning future investments.
Introducing the NACo AI Leadership Academy, a NACo EDGE Webinar
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
NACo has a new online Leadership course offering! This fully online and facilitated program provides the comprehensive detail that leaders need to navigate the changes of government work relative to available technologies and human needs of our society.
If you are like most government leaders today, you are looking for the best way to understand the power of AI, mitigate the risk of AI, and navigate the complexity of cascading change occurring because of AI. Join your peers in this webinar to learn (and share) best practices in AI and digital transformation. Our AI Leadership Coaches, NACo CIO Rita Reynolds and PDA CEO Dr. Tim Rahschulte, will share details on the new NACo Artificial Intelligence (AI) Leadership Academy.
This webinar is brought to you by NACo EDGE, establishing people, purchasing, and performance cost-saving solutions that can be applied to counties nationwide. EDGE is owned by NACo, advised by county leaders and 100% focused on solutions for U.S. Counties. Learn more about NACo EDGE here.
For more information check out the event page!
Counties for Housing Solutions
NACo is partnering with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to provide technical assistance for large urban counties to advance upward economic mobility through policy designed to tackle housing supply and affordability challenges.
How to Get Involved with NACo
Join a committee and make a difference. NACo members have the opportunity to serve on 31 committees, caucuses, task forces and advisory boards to inform national policymaking and help solve problems impacting counties, boroughs and parishes.
Directory of Programs & Resources
Your playbook for NACo's committees, initiatives and tools for counties
NACo Membership Roadmap
When your county is a member of NACo, all county elected officials and staff are members. Find the tools you need to make the most of your NACo membership
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.
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.
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.
Public Promise Procurement
Providing public sector and other entities with a vetted, transparent option for purchasing goods and services more efficiently and cost effectively.
NACo Career Center Job Board
Good employees are crucial to getting the job done. NACo provides a method for counties to find the right people to fill staffing vacancies.
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.
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.
ClearGov®
ClearGov® is the leading provider of budget cycle management software, focused on helping local governments streamline the annual budgeting process.
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
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.
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.
Featured Program
National Center for Public Lands Counties
The National Center for Public Lands Counties is dedicated to advancing the policy and practice study of America’s public lands counties. Our mission is to deepen the understanding and address the unique challenges faced by counties containing federal lands through strategic research and collaboration.
Take Action
Advocacy Hub
Visit NACo‘s advocacy hub to learn about counties’s priorities in federal policymaking.
2025 Appropriations Tracker
The NACo 2025 Appropriations Tracker provides counties with a comprehensive overview of the federal appropriations process, tracking the progress of key spending bills and offering insights on how these will impact county funding and services.
Outreach Toolkit for Counties: The FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program
The NACo Outreach Toolkit aids counties in promoting the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program by providing resources to increase awareness and maintain broadband access beyond the program's funding.
Implementing Infrastructure Investments at the County Level: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58)
On November 15, 2021, President Biden enacted the five-year, $973 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
County Policy Priorities for Transforming the Child Welfare System
Regardless of population size, geography and available resources, counties are deeply invested in our residents’ health and well-being. Every day, we provide services that help vulnerable individuals and families thrive, functioning as an integral part of the federal, state and local partnership in human service delivery.
Legislative Analysis: Impact of PFAS Regulations on Counties
NACo's analysis provides an in-depth examination of current and proposed regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their implications for county governments.
County News
Stay up-to-date on America's counties with NACo's award-winning County News.
Counties walk the walk on door-to-door outreach
Several counties use canvassers to cut through the noise jamming traditional communications channels, spreading the news about programs that could meet their needs.
NACo President Gore seeks out leadership challenges
James Gore found his way into elected office earlier than he’d planned, but when wildfires struck his county early in his tenure, he found a chance to do his most “meaningful, purpose-driven work.”
County community gardens fight food insecurity
Gwinnett County, Ga. established community gardens in county parks to help supply local food banks.
Podcast: Talking with Public Lands County Leaders, Part III
Two county supervisors from California — Jeff Griffiths from Inyo County and Heidi Hall from Nevada County — talk about balancing serving their residents and drawing tourists to their mountain communities.
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.
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