New BRECC Toolkit: Coal Communities’ Pathways for Economic Diversification
This event will take place on Zoom Webinar. Please email nacomeetings@naco.org with any questions regarding registration or login issues.
Join the BRECC National Network to learn how coal counties are diversifying their economies through increasing housing supply, providing innovative workforce development opportunities and revitalizing downtowns. NACo will unveil our new economic diversification toolkit with six proven strategies for coal and other rural communities. For more information on BRECC's National Network learning series and other programming, visit naco.org/brecc.
Featured Initiative
Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities
The Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities initiative connects coal communities, supports local leaders and builds capacity in under-resourced communities to advance new approaches and projects for economic diversification.
NACo testifies before Congress in support of federal rural development programs
On September 18, Potter County, Pa. Commissioner Paul Heimel testified on behalf of NACo before the U.S. House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development hearing, titled “USDA’s Rural Development: Delivering Vital Programs and Services to Rural America.”
MAHA Commission releases federal strategy outlining next steps in childhood chronic disease prevention
On September 9, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s new Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, following the earlier MAHA Report published in May 2025. The strategy builds on the assessment’s findings regarding four key drivers of childhood chronic disease: poor diet, chemical exposure, lack of physical activity and chronic stress and overmedicalization.
Paid training program helps staff a county park system
Modeled on the Civilian Conservation Corps, Erie County, N.Y.'s training and internship program aims to help fill vacant staff positions while offering the necessary training.
Eastern Tennessee counties collaborate on nuclear energy ambitions
Decades after the Manhattan Project, cooperation among Roane, Anderson and Knox counties in Tennessee drives toward a high profile for nuclear power.
EPA releases proposal to repeal 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding
On July 29, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposal to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding. Following the announcement from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a supporting report—A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate.
Professional Development Academy and National Association of Counties launch expanded partnership to support local government leaders
Professional Development Academy and NACo expand their partnership to train 10,000 more county leaders, equipping officials with critical leadership and tech skills.