NACo Information Series on Treasury’s ARPA Flexibility Guidance: Relief from Natural Disasters
On August 10, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) released their Interim Final Rule (IFR) for the bipartisan State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act (i.e. Cornyn/Padilla Amendment) that allows counties to invest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) dollars in emergency relief from natural disasters that have occurred, are expected to occur imminently of to occur in the future. Join NACo for our second in a series of information sessions where we will walk through key features of Treasury’s Interim Final Rule for the ARPA SLFRF and how counties can effectively take advantage of the new flexibilities and invest these dollars at the local level.
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Resource
NACo Analysis: Overview of New Treasury Guidance for ARPA Flexibility Legislation
Featured Initiative
American Rescue Plan Resource Hub
House Natural Resources Committee advances Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act
On November 20, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources advanced the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776), which would make important changes to streamline federal permitting and strengthen county involvement in decision-making by amending the National Environmental Policy Act. Counties support commonsense permitting reforms, and NACo secured provisions in the SPEED Act that would guarantee counties a seat at the table during federal environmental reviews.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency releases new definition of the “waters of the United States”
On November 17, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a proposed rule defining what constitute the “waters of the United States” and are subject to federal regulation under the Clean Water Act. The new definition is narrower than previous rules and codifies the decision of U.S. Supreme Court in the 2023 case Sackett v. EPA.
County Countdown – Nov. 17, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
Restoration efforts turn former Texas oil field into flood buffer and wildlife sanctuary
Harris County, Texas helped purchase the land to restore a former oilfield, creating a buffer for flooding.
States file lawsuit challenging FEMA’s new rules on emergency management grants
On November 4, a coalition of 12 states filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), alleging that recent changes to key emergency management grants are unlawful and could disrupt state and local preparedness efforts.
County Countdown – Nov. 4, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
Investing in Tomorrow: Jones County's Blueprint for Financial Innovation
Friday, December 5, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
Counties today face increasing pressure to make every public dollar count. Success depends not only on smart financial strategy, but also on strong communication across departments, with the community, and with the board of commissioners. Join Jones County Manager, Kyle Smith, Finance Director, Blake Batchelor, and three+one's Mike Abbott for a 30-minute conversation on how proactive, data-driven liquidity management is helping them plan more confidently, respond faster, and build trust throughout their community.
Attendees will hear how Jones County, N.C.:
- Adopted a forward-looking approach to liquidity and cash-flow forecasting through adopting cashVest by three+one
- Strengthened collaboration across departments and with county leadership • Modernized policies and systems to support future planning
- Communicated strategy and results to commissioners and residents
- Used real-time financial insight to pursue grants, capital projects, and long-term priorities
This session will provide practical guidance that county leaders can apply immediately, whether they are reviewing their investment policy, preparing for capital needs, or working to strengthen transparency with their governing board and community.
Register today to learn how a modern, collaborative approach to liquidity strategy can create value for your organization and the people you serve.
For more information, visit the event page!
Modern Networks, Smarter Budgets: A County Leader's Perspective
Join us for a fireside chat with Orleans County, NY, as they share how their team successfully transitioned from a traditional capital expense (CapEx) model to an operational expense (OpEx) model for network services.
When faced with rising maintenance costs and an expiring carrier contract, the county seized the opportunity to modernize its network and lock in predictable monthly costs. By bundling connectivity services with unified communications, they achieved immediate savings of over $124,000, eliminated recurring charges such as long-distance fees and third-party integration costs, and gained access to operational upgrades like call analytics and auto-attendants.
This shift not only strengthened financial planning through fixed monthly expenses but also freed up IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives.
Key takeaway: Rethinking your budget model can be just as impactful as upgrading your technology — delivering fiscal stability and enhanced services for your community.
FAA-NACo Airport Land Use Compatibility
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:300 p.m. ET
Counties play a crucial role in our nation’s aviation system, owning and operating hundreds of airports across the country. And even in places where the county may not own the airport, county planning departments and development organizations work to maximize the value of this asset to the community’s economic and overall wellbeing. Join NACo and staff from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Airports Planning and Programming to learn more about the FAA’s “Advisory Circular on Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning,” which will enable counties work smarter to integrate airports into broader planning efforts for land use, economic development and more. FAA staff will also be available to answer questions from county leaders about planning needs in their community and how the Advisory Circular can guide those efforts.
Speakers:
- Jacqueline Essick, Associate Director, Jacobsen|Daniels
- Amber McNair, Founder & Principal Investigator, AV McNair, LLC
- Michael (Mike) Hines, Manager of Airports Planning and Environmental Division, FAA
- Jean Wolfers-Lawrence, Manager of Environmental Planning Branch, FAA