Strengthening America's Counties

NACo partners with thought leaders, industry partners and philanthropic organizations to identify and elevate best practices in key areas of county responsibility. NACo programming enhances public understanding of county government and supports the learning and development of America’s county leaders.

By showcasing how county governments provide vital behavioral health services and resources and by advocating for key mental health reforms—including repealing harmful exclusionary Medicaid policies, bolstering local crisis response infrastructure, supporting the behavioral health workforce, and ensuring mental health parity—we can effect significant change.

On April 30, the House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) by a vote of 224–200. 

NACo’s ​2026 federal policy priorities​ outline counties’ shared federal agenda and serve as a roadmap for our collective advocacy on the issues most critical to county governments and the communities we serve.

This resource hub brings together data, analysis and tools to support county leaders in expanding housing access and affordability for their residents. 

In this resource, you will find tools and best practices to help educate and engage with Congress, the Administration and the public on the importance of county infrastructure and the need for direct federal support.

This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of proposed increases, cuts or eliminations to key federal programs in the president’s budget appendix for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 that are relevant to county governments and a summary of the budget outlining items of note for county governments.

This explainer breaks down what federal permitting reform means, why it matters for counties and what’s happening in Washington. 

This toolkit is designed to help county leaders understand four of the top county policy wins that NACo fought to include in the FEMA Act, explain how these provisions would impact counties and provide clear, actionable guidance on how counties can advocate for the bill’s passage.

Learn about proposed federal reforms to Medicaid financing and their potential implications for county budgets and service delivery.

The report provides counties with a practical, five-step framework for developing affordable housing on county-owned land, covering site selection, zoning review, financial feasibility, developer procurement and community engagement. It highlights how counties can reduce development costs, leverage public assets and build community support to expand affordable housing production.

Riverside County, Calif. tapped a talented communications staffer to bring to life news from their Board of Supervisors with their program Board Brief. Pep Fernandez, along with CEO Jeff Van Wagenen, explain the program's success and NACo President J.D. Clark fleshes out his County Storytellers spotlight.

Counties are finding a renewed interest in professional development as a feature of their careers.

Sevier County, Tenn. refused to let the government shutdown devastate its fall tourism draw—Great Smoky Mountains National Park. County Mayor Larry Waters describes the lengths he and his neighbors went to keep the park open. And NACo Chief Government Affairs Officer Mark Ritacco offers an outlook on what counties can take away from the shutdown and into the future.

The Lake County, Calif. Food Policy Council is helping local farmers find new markets for their produce. Lake County Supervisor Bruno Sabatier explains his county's agricultural background and his goals for the council and NACo's Alseta Gholston outlines economic mobility resources available to county officials.

Boone County, Mo. Commissioner Janet Thompson describes the challenges that inadequate childhood services pose to children and families and the labor market, and how her county is working provide more options for county employees.

Kevin Leonard, executive director of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, and Amanda McKinney, a Yakima County, Wash. commissioner, talk about two different challenges county officials face in responding to disasters.

As awareness of social isolation spreads, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Loudoun County, Va. Chair Phyllis Randall discuss the role of government in combatting the problem.

NACo Executive Director Matt Chase interviews County News Podcast Host Charlie Ban about a new book chronicling NACo’s first 90 years.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.