2023 Western Interstate Region Conference
About the Conference
The NACo Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference brings together county officials from across the nation to focus on pressing issues facing counties and our residents. Each year the conference is hosted by a county within the fifteen Western states – Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming – and provides attendees with the opportunity to interact with federal, state and regional policymakers, participate in educational sessions and take home tools to address challenges.
County News
WIR showcases Utah counties
U.S. Department of the Interior announces PILT funding of $644.8 million to be distributed to counties
On June 24, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced that over 1,900 state and local governments nationwide will receive $644.8 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes program (PILT) funding for 2025. A complete list of funding by state and county is available here. You can also check NACo’s County Explorer for detailed county-by-county information on 2024 PILT funding levels.
WIR grows membership, offerings in South Dakota
Members of NACo’s Western Interstate Region learned about and fueled the work being done by the National Center for Public Lands Counties at the WIR Conference in Pennington County, S.D.
Interest in energy generation builds in the West
Counties are exploring the potential for energy generation on their public lands, but local control will set the stage for a tradeoff.
BLM, HUD target public lands for housing
A multi-agency push could open up hundreds of thousands of BLM acres near towns and cities to development for attainable housing.
House Natural Resources Committee considers the Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2025
On March 6, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) introduced the Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2025, which makes several important changes to the Endangered Species Act and addresses key county concerns.
USFS begins disbursement of revenue sharing payments amid lapse in SRS funding
On April 11, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service began distributing funds to support public schools and roads in counties containing national forest lands.