Rural Action Caucus
About RAC
Since 1997, the Rural Action Caucus (RAC) has represented the nearly 70 percent of America's counties that are rural, addressing critical federal, state and local issues impacting these unique communities. In Washington, D.C., RAC is the voice of rural counties before Congress and the White House.
The Rural Action Caucus (RAC) is a key component of NACo's mission in supporting county officials in the pursuit of excellence in public service. County officials from these areas are dedicated to solving the unique issues impacting local communities and rural economic development, including making daily decisions impacting roughly 60 million Americans.
These include infrastructure development, broadband deployment, development of new rural clinics and hospitals, road and bridge construction and maintenance, business development opportunities and many more county responsibilities.
Conference
2026 NACo Energy Symposium
County leaders from across the country joined in the Texas Panhandle for the 2026 NACo Energy Symposium. Held September 23-25, 2026, the event offered county officials a unique opportunity to engage with the most pressing issues shaping America today.
Attendees heard from experts, exchanged ideas with peers and gained practical into the policies, projects and partnerships driving the future of energy development. From grid reliability and energy infrastructure to economic development, land use, innovation and community impacts, the symposium equipped county officials with the insights, partnerships and strategies needed to lead in a rapidly changing energy landscape.
Resource
NACo Primer for Counties: Renewable Energy in Farm Country
Resource
Primer for Counties: 2026 Farm Bill Reauthorization
Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities
The Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities initiative connected coal communities, supported local leaders and built capacity in under-resourced communities to advance new approaches and projects for economic diversification.
Rural Leaders for Economic Mobility
This program is a 22-month, 10-county peer-learning cohort that supports rural leaders in advancing equitable economic mobility. The program provides tailored technical assistance to help counties develop and implement Mobility Action Plans focused on workforce, housing, broadband, childcare and other key drivers of rural prosperity.
Resilient Counties Initiative
NACo works to strengthen county resiliency by building leadership capacity to identify and manage risk, and allow counties to become more flexible and responsive.
Military Communities Initiative
The U.S. Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative Program helps manage encroachment and incompatible development near military installations. The program forms partnerships that protect military operations from restrictive development and strengthens long-term relationships between the Department of Defense and counties.
Related Committees
Join a NACo Committee
Join a committee and make a difference. Learn more about getting involved with NACo.
RAC Chair
View all Rural Action Caucus members here.
Hon. Terry Wilbur
Caucus Contact
Rachel Yeung
