2021 Virtual NACo Legislative Conference

County decision-makers can miss the big picture when a jurisdiction’s data is siloed or inaccessible. Critical business systems that enable operations for ERP, asset management, permitting and licensing and appraisal and tax all hold valuable information that can remain locked in a single department. Connecting this information from multiple sources empowers leaders and employees at all levels to create efficiencies, monitor trends and solve problems. The resulting insights help ensure equitable service delivery and responsive, data-driven strategies to support economic recovery and community success. Effective internal data sharing manifests externally as well, providing the public with improved transparency, service and two-way engagement opportunities. Explore how this works in practice with Clermont County, Ohio, where leaders have connected data, systems and people to transform internal operations and enhance public service.

With U.S. tenants in billions of dollars of debt with their landlords, housing insecurity is a critical issue for millions across the country that has only been worsened by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, county governments must both support their residents through various housing services and rapidly and effectively distribute billions of dollars of housing assistance funding from the federal government. Join us for a session on best practices in housing and rental assistance aid disbursement that will feature housing expert recommendations as well as county program examples from across the country. 

Join NACo for a virtual meet and greet with intergovernmental affairs representatives from a variety of federal agencies. Learn about how you can leverage intergovernmental partnerships, make connections with federal officials and network with colleagues and peers! Members will be able to visit “Federal Agency Tables” in Zoom Breakout Rooms to hear from these representatives and share your county’s stories. Participating federal agencies include:

Members will hear from federal officials and congressional staff on the latest community, economic and workforce development federal policy and funding issues, including the latest on the FY 2022 appropriations process. CEWD Steering Committee members will vote on interim policy resolutions discussed during the resolutions meeting.

County decision-makers can miss the big picture when a jurisdiction’s data is siloed or inaccessible. Critical business systems that enable operations for ERP, asset management, permitting and licensing and appraisal and tax all hold valuable information that can remain locked in a single department. Connecting this information from multiple sources empowers leaders and employees at all levels to create efficiencies, monitor trends and solve problems. The resulting insights help ensure equitable service delivery and responsive, data-driven strategies to support economic recovery and community success. Effective internal data sharing manifests externally as well, providing the public with improved transparency, service and two-way engagement opportunities. Explore how this works in practice with Clermont County, Ohio, where leaders have connected data, systems and people to transform internal operations and enhance public service.

With U.S. tenants in billions of dollars of debt with their landlords, housing insecurity is a critical issue for millions across the country that has only been worsened by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, county governments must both support their residents through various housing services and rapidly and effectively distribute billions of dollars of housing assistance funding from the federal government. Join us for a session on best practices in housing and rental assistance aid disbursement that will feature housing expert recommendations as well as county program examples from across the country. 

Join NACo for a virtual meet and greet with intergovernmental affairs representatives from a variety of federal agencies. Learn about how you can leverage intergovernmental partnerships, make connections with federal officials and network with colleagues and peers! Members will be able to visit “Federal Agency Tables” in Zoom Breakout Rooms to hear from these representatives and share your county’s stories. Participating federal agencies include:

With U.S. tenants in billions of dollars of debt with their landlords, housing insecurity is a critical issue for millions across the country that has only been worsened by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, county governments must both support their residents through various housing services and rapidly and effectively distribute billions of dollars of housing assistance funding from the federal government. Join us for a session on best practices in housing and rental assistance aid disbursement that will feature housing expert recommendations as well as county program examples from across the country. 

Nearly three months into the Biden Administration’s national COVID-19 vaccine strategy, this session will evaluate progress on local vaccination uptake, as well as challenges and successes from on-the-ground implementation. Attendees will hear from local communities about lessons learned and best practices, and engage with federal experts and discuss ongoing local needs for COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts.

Join NACo for a virtual meet and greet with intergovernmental affairs representatives from a variety of federal agencies. Learn about how you can leverage intergovernmental partnerships, make connections with federal officials and network with colleagues and peers! Members will be able to visit “Federal Agency Tables” in Zoom Breakout Rooms to hear from these representatives and share your county’s stories. Participating federal agencies include:

Nearly three months into the Biden Administration’s national COVID-19 vaccine strategy, this session will evaluate progress on local vaccination uptake, as well as challenges and successes from on-the-ground implementation. Attendees will hear from local communities about lessons learned and best practices, and engage with federal experts and discuss ongoing local needs for COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts.

The Western Interstate Region (WIR) is dedicated to the promotion of Western interests within NACo. Its membership consists of fifteen Western states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Washington). WIR Members will learn about public lands and rural development priorities for the 117th Congress and the Biden administration, new disaster prevention and mitigation programs, and regulatory issues important to western counties.

The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Policy Steering Committee will be joined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Congressman Jim Costa (Calif.-16) who will provide an update on some of the efforts underway in the 117th Congress to bolster opportunities for American farmers and the role counties can play in the local, domestic, and global food supply chain. Members will discuss how local officials can best work with our federal partners to address these ongoing issues.”

Join the Environment, Energy and Land Use (EELU) Steering Committee’s Meeting as members will discuss proposed policy resolutions related to the EELU policy platform. Members will hear from sponsors who submitted policy resolutions and have the opportunity to ask questions before they are voted on at the EELU business meeting.

Join NACo for a virtual meet and greet with intergovernmental affairs representatives from a variety of federal agencies. Learn about how you can leverage intergovernmental partnerships, make connections with federal officials and network with colleagues and peers! Members will be able to visit “Federal Agency Tables” in Zoom Breakout Rooms to hear from these representatives and share your county’s stories. Participating federal agencies include:

Under Section 1905(a)(A) of the Social Security Act, the use of federal medical funds and services for “inmates of a public institution” is prohibited, through what is known as the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP). This policy has created unintended impacts on the local criminal justice system and for counties, and has contributed to the national behavioral and mental health crisis and rates of jail recidivism. Convened in March 2019, the National Association of Counties (NACo) and National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) joint task force worked to identify challenges posed by the MIEP. Join NACo, NSA, and the Major County Sheriff’s of America alongside partner organizations and members of Congress, to highlight legislation in the 117th Congress aimed at making needed amendments to this federal policy. 

Nearly three months into the Biden Administration’s national COVID-19 vaccine strategy, this session will evaluate progress on local vaccination uptake, as well as challenges and successes from on-the-ground implementation. Attendees will hear from local communities about lessons learned and best practices, and engage with federal experts and discuss ongoing local needs for COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts.

This workshop will provide a legislative update on the future of retirement security, evaluate plan design issues and examine the impact retirement security is having on minority communities.

The FPIGA Steering Committee will be joined by Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (Ohio-3) and other panelists who will share their efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the financial services space. They will also be joined by congressional staff to hear about the latest activity around federal tax policies and outlook for 2021. Additionally members will be joined by national and local experts for a discussion on how counties are navigating the impact of COVID-19 on their credit ratings as well as existing and new issuances. Members will consider and vote on interim policy resolutions used to guide NACo’s advocacy efforts before Congress, the White House and federal agencies.

Join NACo for a virtual meet and greet with intergovernmental affairs representatives from a variety of federal agencies. Learn about how you can leverage intergovernmental partnerships, make connections with federal officials and network with colleagues and peers! Members will be able to visit “Federal Agency Tables” in Zoom Breakout Rooms to hear from these representatives and share your county’s stories. Participating federal agencies include:

Nearly three months into the Biden Administration’s national COVID-19 vaccine strategy, this session will evaluate progress on local vaccination uptake, as well as challenges and successes from on-the-ground implementation. Attendees will hear from local communities about lessons learned and best practices, and engage with federal experts and discuss ongoing local needs for COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts.

Join NACo for a virtual meet and greet with intergovernmental affairs representatives from a variety of federal agencies. Learn about how you can leverage intergovernmental partnerships, make connections with federal officials and network with colleagues and peers! Members will be able to visit “Federal Agency Tables” in Zoom Breakout Rooms to hear from these representatives and share your county’s stories. Participating federal agencies include:

Under Section 1905(a)(A) of the Social Security Act, the use of federal medical funds and services for “inmates of a public institution” is prohibited, through what is known as the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP). This policy has created unintended impacts on the local criminal justice system and for counties, and has contributed to the national behavioral and mental health crisis and rates of jail recidivism. Convened in March 2019, the National Association of Counties (NACo) and National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) joint task force worked to identify challenges posed by the MIEP. Join NACo, NSA, and the Major County Sheriff’s of America alongside partner organizations and members of Congress, to highlight legislation in the 117th Congress aimed at making needed amendments to this federal policy. 

Nearly three months into the Biden Administration’s national COVID-19 vaccine strategy, this session will evaluate progress on local vaccination uptake, as well as challenges and successes from on-the-ground implementation. Attendees will hear from local communities about lessons learned and best practices, and engage with federal experts and discuss ongoing local needs for COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts.

All conference attendees are welcome to attend this meeting of NACo's Programs and Services Standing Committee, which advises the association's officers and Board of Directors regarding the development and evaluation of programs and services for NACo members. This meeting will focus on key NACo programs and services, including NACo High Performance Leadership Academy, Corporate Premier Program and county networks and learning communities facilitated by the Counties Futures Lab. Committee members will hear about NACo’s ongoing projects and provide feedback through live polling and discussion to help maximize the impact of these initiatives and help shape NACo’s strategy in formulating future initiatives to strengthen America’s counties.

Join NACo for a virtual meet and greet with intergovernmental affairs representatives from a variety of federal agencies. Learn about how you can leverage intergovernmental partnerships, make connections with federal officials and network with colleagues and peers! Members will be able to visit “Federal Agency Tables” in Zoom Breakout Rooms to hear from these representatives and share your county’s stories. Participating federal agencies include:

Join GIS Subcommittee members to hear presentations from the U.S. Census and how counties are using GIS to address emerging pandemic needs such as vaccine site locations. NACo Corporate sponsor ESRI will also provide an overview of the role that GIS can play in redistricting.
 

The Justice and Public Safety Committee will be joined by Congresswoman Val Demings (D-Fla.) to discuss the outlook for criminal justice reform in the 117th Congress and hear from the U.S. Department of Justice about upcoming policy and justice program assistance opportunities in 2021. Additionally, committee members will hear from FEMA and Capitol Hill staff on the outlook for emergency management related legislation and policy changes. This committee will also review and vote on interim policy resolutions.
 

Join NACo for a virtual meet and greet with intergovernmental affairs representatives from a variety of federal agencies. Learn about how you can leverage intergovernmental partnerships, make connections with federal officials and network with colleagues and peers! Members will be able to visit “Federal Agency Tables” in Zoom Breakout Rooms to hear from these representatives and share your county’s stories. Participating federal agencies include:

Under Section 1905(a)(A) of the Social Security Act, the use of federal medical funds and services for “inmates of a public institution” is prohibited, through what is known as the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP). This policy has created unintended impacts on the local criminal justice system and for counties, and has contributed to the national behavioral and mental health crisis and rates of jail recidivism. Convened in March 2019, the National Association of Counties (NACo) and National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) joint task force worked to identify challenges posed by the MIEP. Join NACo, NSA, and the Major County Sheriff’s of America alongside partner organizations and members of Congress, to highlight legislation in the 117th Congress aimed at making needed amendments to this federal policy. 

Nearly three months into the Biden Administration’s national COVID-19 vaccine strategy, this session will evaluate progress on local vaccination uptake, as well as challenges and successes from on-the-ground implementation. Attendees will hear from local communities about lessons learned and best practices, and engage with federal experts and discuss ongoing local needs for COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts.

All conference attendees are welcome to attend this meeting of NACo's Programs and Services Standing Committee, which advises the association's officers and Board of Directors regarding the development and evaluation of programs and services for NACo members. This meeting will focus on key NACo programs and services, including NACo High Performance Leadership Academy, Corporate Premier Program and county networks and learning communities facilitated by the Counties Futures Lab. Committee members will hear about NACo’s ongoing projects and provide feedback through live polling and discussion to help maximize the impact of these initiatives and help shape NACo’s strategy in formulating future initiatives to strengthen America’s counties.

Join GIS Subcommittee members to hear presentations from the U.S. Census and how counties are using GIS to address emerging pandemic needs such as vaccine site locations. NACo Corporate sponsor ESRI will also provide an overview of the role that GIS can play in redistricting.
 

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes a historic temporary investment in the Child Tax Credit, expanding both its size and its eligibility guidelines in 2021. As a result, an estimated 27 million children will qualify for new levels of direct income support which could cut child poverty in half this year. Join this NACo Webinar for an overview of key outreach and tax assistance strategies to ensure vulnerable families in your county can access these new benefits.
 

Under Section 1905(a)(A) of the Social Security Act, the use of federal medical funds and services for “inmates of a public institution” is prohibited, through what is known as the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP). This policy has created unintended impacts on the local criminal justice system and for counties, and has contributed to the national behavioral and mental health crisis and rates of jail recidivism. Convened in March 2019, the National Association of Counties (NACo) and National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) joint task force worked to identify challenges posed by the MIEP. Join NACo, NSA, and the Major County Sheriff’s of America alongside partner organizations and members of Congress, to highlight legislation in the 117th Congress aimed at making needed amendments to this federal policy. 

Join us for a discussion with Rita Reynolds, NACo CIO and a State Tech IT Influencer, and Jen Snyder, GovQA's Chief Evangelist who will examine reasons why Government CIOs need to modernize technology now including the top eight reasons modernizing public records request processing is crucial. There will also be a discussion around the PiPRIndex, a historic marker that reflects a 150% growth in the complexity of managing public records requests over the past three years. We’ll talk about each of the seven figures that compose the PiPRIndex and how these figures represent a broader trend felt by most state and local governments.

This webinar will cover:

• Growing volume and the seven metrics that make up the PiPRIndex: file quantity, file size, video files, file type, interactions, clarification emails and time spent;
• How to use this data to support technology investment decisions that address increases in public records complexity;
• How to compare your agency’s own complexity figures with those of your peers;
• 8 reasons that CIOs are modernizing public records request processing with cloud technology.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes a historic temporary investment in the Child Tax Credit, expanding both its size and its eligibility guidelines in 2021. As a result, an estimated 27 million children will qualify for new levels of direct income support which could cut child poverty in half this year. Join this NACo Webinar for an overview of key outreach and tax assistance strategies to ensure vulnerable families in your county can access these new benefits.
 

Join us for an engaging conversation centered on recent federal guidance on how annuities are changing the retirement industry as employees head toward retirement and consider various distribution options from their retirement plans.

Members of the Rural Action Caucus will examine a wide range of issues including how to leverage the community college system to future-proof the local economy, rural broadband connectivity challenges and opportunities, and efforts to bolster our nation’s food and nutrition systems.

County Veteran Service Officers (CVSOs) are often the first point of contact for veteran services, including VA health care, housing and transition assistance programs. CVSOs in 36 states and two Native American tribes process more than $22 billion annually in claims for direct compensation and pension benefits for veterans. But because these offices are almost entirely funded by counties, they often face resource challenges—particularly in areas with high demand or in counties serving veterans in rural areas. Join county leaders, County Veteran Service Officers and Members of Congress for a discussion of key legislation that would strengthen critical services for veterans.

A generational gap is widening in the workplace. While baby boomers express reluctance about retiring, millennials have become the single largest and commonly most talked about demographic in the American labor force. Recognizing that each of these generations have very different needs, especially in light of COVID, what value do participants place on retirement? This session will include a discussion on market trends and highlight insights from each of the generations as they pursue better retirement outcomes.

The Justice and Public Safety Committee will be joined by Congresswoman Val Demings (D-Fla.) to discuss the outlook for criminal justice reform in the 117th Congress and hear from the U.S. Department of Justice about upcoming policy and justice program assistance opportunities in 2021. Additionally, committee members will hear from FEMA and Capitol Hill staff on the outlook for emergency management related legislation and policy changes. This committee will also review and vote on interim policy resolutions.
 

Please join NACo and Witt O’Brien’s to learn about similarities and differences between the Consolidated Appropriations Act and American Rescue Plan emergency rental assistance programs, including spend deadlines, use of funds and other critical factors such as best practices and avoiding pitfalls.

County Veteran Service Officers (CVSOs) are often the first point of contact for veteran services, including VA health care, housing and transition assistance programs. CVSOs in 36 states and two Native American tribes process more than $22 billion annually in claims for direct compensation and pension benefits for veterans. But because these offices are almost entirely funded by counties, they often face resource challenges—particularly in areas with high demand or in counties serving veterans in rural areas. Join county leaders, County Veteran Service Officers and Members of Congress for a discussion of key legislation that would strengthen critical services for veterans.

In this session, you'll learn the basics of federal grants, including guidance regarding the American Rescue Plan, pre-registration requirements for federal grants, tips for preparing your county for grant applications and how to win at the county level.

A generational gap is widening in the workplace. While baby boomers express reluctance about retiring, millennials have become the single largest and commonly most talked about demographic in the American labor force. Recognizing that each of these generations have very different needs, especially in light of COVID, what value do participants place on retirement? This session will include a discussion on market trends and highlight insights from each of the generations as they pursue better retirement outcomes.

The Justice and Public Safety Committee will be joined by Congresswoman Val Demings (D-Fla.) to discuss the outlook for criminal justice reform in the 117th Congress and hear from the U.S. Department of Justice about upcoming policy and justice program assistance opportunities in 2021. Additionally, committee members will hear from FEMA and Capitol Hill staff on the outlook for emergency management related legislation and policy changes. This committee will also review and vote on interim policy resolutions.
 

Please join NACo and Witt O’Brien’s to learn about similarities and differences between the Consolidated Appropriations Act and American Rescue Plan emergency rental assistance programs, including spend deadlines, use of funds and other critical factors such as best practices and avoiding pitfalls.

Counties are implementing early childhood innovations that draw on leading practices for advancing policies, services and systems that benefit infants and toddlers and put them developmentally on track for kindergarten. This workshop focues on challenges and opportunities local leaders are facing in building robust support for young children aged prenatal to three and federal policy that can strengthen these efforts.

A generational gap is widening in the workplace. While baby boomers express reluctance about retiring, millennials have become the single largest and commonly most talked about demographic in the American labor force. Recognizing that each of these generations have very different needs, especially in light of COVID, what value do participants place on retirement? This session will include a discussion on market trends and highlight insights from each of the generations as they pursue better retirement outcomes.

Members of the Rural Action Caucus will examine a wide range of issues including how to leverage the community college system to future-proof the local economy, rural broadband connectivity challenges and opportunities, and efforts to bolster our nation’s food and nutrition systems.

Join the National Association of Counties (NACo) for a National Membership Call on the implementation of the American Rescue Plan and to hear about the Biden Administration’s proposal for infrastructure investments, the American Jobs Plan. 

A generational gap is widening in the workplace. While baby boomers express reluctance about retiring, millennials have become the single largest and commonly most talked about demographic in the American labor force. Recognizing that each of these generations have very different needs, especially in light of COVID, what value do participants place on retirement? This session will include a discussion on market trends and highlight insights from each of the generations as they pursue better retirement outcomes.

Members of the Rural Action Caucus will examine a wide range of issues including how to leverage the community college system to future-proof the local economy, rural broadband connectivity challenges and opportunities, and efforts to bolster our nation’s food and nutrition systems.

Join the National Association of Counties (NACo) for a National Membership Call on the implementation of the American Rescue Plan and to hear about the Biden Administration’s proposal for infrastructure investments, the American Jobs Plan. 

NACo’s Arts & Culture Committee presents Using the Arts to Bridge Racial & Cultural Divides, a meeting open to all NACo members. The meeting will showcase the work of the committee and celebrate the many cultures that contribute to the arts across the United States. Committee members will present a diverse assortment of arts installations and programming from their counties. Expert presenters from organizations including Americans for the Arts, the Institute of American Indian Arts and PolicyLink will discuss the importance of the arts to communities, the critical role of the arts in racial equity, and more. The committee will also honor former Chair Shelley Taub as this year’s winner of the Public Leadership in the Arts Award, in partnership with Americans for the Arts.

Since 1977, jail and other local corrections costs have risen sixfold, with local jail expenditures reaching $25 billion. Newly released data indicates that U.S. jail populations dropped 25 percent from June 2019 to June 2020, driven mostly by COVID-19. At an average annual cost of $34,000 per incarcerated person, finding ways to reduce the use of jails represents significant cost savings for counties.

This webinar features new research from the Pew Charitable Trusts that shows jail costs are rising even as crime and new jail admissions are falling. County leaders will share their perspective on the rising cost of jails and practical solutions for reducing local expenses and preserving public safety.

Join NACo and Adam Seagrave of the Arizona State University Center for Political Thought and Leadership for a session on civic education and civil discourse in American Constitutional democracy today. Learn more about ASU's Educating for American Democracy project and learn how county leaders can advance civic education and discourse at the local level.

Examine how counties can be involved in the land use process, federal permitting and permit streamlining. This session also outlines our expectations for the new administration.Examine how counties can be involved in the land use process, federal permitting and permit streamlining. This session also outlines our expectations for the new administration.

Counties are implementing early childhood innovations that draw on leading practices for advancing policies, services and systems that benefit infants and toddlers and put them developmentally on track for kindergarten. This workshop focues on challenges and opportunities local leaders are facing in building robust support for young children aged prenatal to three and federal policy that can strengthen these efforts.

NACo’s Arts & Culture Committee presents Using the Arts to Bridge Racial & Cultural Divides, a meeting open to all NACo members. The meeting will showcase the work of the committee and celebrate the many cultures that contribute to the arts across the United States. Committee members will present a diverse assortment of arts installations and programming from their counties. Expert presenters from organizations including Americans for the Arts, the Institute of American Indian Arts and PolicyLink will discuss the importance of the arts to communities, the critical role of the arts in racial equity, and more. The committee will also honor former Chair Shelley Taub as this year’s winner of the Public Leadership in the Arts Award, in partnership with Americans for the Arts.

NACo's Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) is the premier national forum for the exchange of ideas and solutions that help urban counties address their most pressing issues. The LUCC meeting at NACo's 2021 Virtual Legislative Conference will feature conversations with national leaders and congressional staff on topics including FY 2022 appropriations, COVID-19 vaccine distribution and criminal justice reform. All urban county officials are welcome to attend.

Since 1977, jail and other local corrections costs have risen sixfold, with local jail expenditures reaching $25 billion. Newly released data indicates that U.S. jail populations dropped 25 percent from June 2019 to June 2020, driven mostly by COVID-19. At an average annual cost of $34,000 per incarcerated person, finding ways to reduce the use of jails represents significant cost savings for counties.

This webinar features new research from the Pew Charitable Trusts that shows jail costs are rising even as crime and new jail admissions are falling. County leaders will share their perspective on the rising cost of jails and practical solutions for reducing local expenses and preserving public safety.

Join iCivics for a discussion on how county leaders can support civic education on a local level and empower, educate and engage. This webinar focuses on iCivics resources for counties, junior and senior high school curricula, acitivities for elementary students and the iCivics online educational game.

iCivics provides equitable and non-partisan civic education through curricular resources, games, learning materials, digital literacy tools and more. Founded in 2009 by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, iCivics has grown into the nation’s premier non-profit civic education power and has launched the Educating for American Democracy National Forum.

Learn how counties, particularly small and medium-sized counties, can build more robust economies through new energy opportunities. Explore federal programs to help customers and local governments create greater energy affordability, security and resiliency.

NACo’s Arts & Culture Committee presents Using the Arts to Bridge Racial & Cultural Divides, a meeting open to all NACo members. The meeting will showcase the work of the committee and celebrate the many cultures that contribute to the arts across the United States. Committee members will present a diverse assortment of arts installations and programming from their counties. Expert presenters from organizations including Americans for the Arts, the Institute of American Indian Arts and PolicyLink will discuss the importance of the arts to communities, the critical role of the arts in racial equity, and more. The committee will also honor former Chair Shelley Taub as this year’s winner of the Public Leadership in the Arts Award, in partnership with Americans for the Arts.

NACo's Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) is the premier national forum for the exchange of ideas and solutions that help urban counties address their most pressing issues. The LUCC meeting at NACo's 2021 Virtual Legislative Conference will feature conversations with national leaders and congressional staff on topics including FY 2022 appropriations, COVID-19 vaccine distribution and criminal justice reform. All urban county officials are welcome to attend.

Since 1977, jail and other local corrections costs have risen sixfold, with local jail expenditures reaching $25 billion. Newly released data indicates that U.S. jail populations dropped 25 percent from June 2019 to June 2020, driven mostly by COVID-19. At an average annual cost of $34,000 per incarcerated person, finding ways to reduce the use of jails represents significant cost savings for counties.

This webinar features new research from the Pew Charitable Trusts that shows jail costs are rising even as crime and new jail admissions are falling. County leaders will share their perspective on the rising cost of jails and practical solutions for reducing local expenses and preserving public safety.

Join iCivics for a discussion on how county leaders can support civic education on a local level and empower, educate and engage. This webinar focuses on iCivics resources for counties, junior and senior high school curricula, acitivities for elementary students and the iCivics online educational game.

iCivics provides equitable and non-partisan civic education through curricular resources, games, learning materials, digital literacy tools and more. Founded in 2009 by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, iCivics has grown into the nation’s premier non-profit civic education power and has launched the Educating for American Democracy National Forum.

NACo’s Arts & Culture Committee presents Using the Arts to Bridge Racial & Cultural Divides, a meeting open to all NACo members. The meeting will showcase the work of the committee and celebrate the many cultures that contribute to the arts across the United States. Committee members will present a diverse assortment of arts installations and programming from their counties. Expert presenters from organizations including Americans for the Arts, the Institute of American Indian Arts and PolicyLink will discuss the importance of the arts to communities, the critical role of the arts in racial equity, and more. The committee will also honor former Chair Shelley Taub as this year’s winner of the Public Leadership in the Arts Award, in partnership with Americans for the Arts.

NACo's Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) is the premier national forum for the exchange of ideas and solutions that help urban counties address their most pressing issues. The LUCC meeting at NACo's 2021 Virtual Legislative Conference will feature conversations with national leaders and congressional staff on topics including FY 2022 appropriations, COVID-19 vaccine distribution and criminal justice reform. All urban county officials are welcome to attend.

In this webinar counties will hear from Biobot Analytics on how it uses technology to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in communities through wastewater sampling, which can be used to inform planning for mobile test centers and vaccination sites. Tune in to learn more about how you can use wastewater testing data as part of your long-term COVID-19 mitigation and response strategy.

Join your NABCO/NOBCO family for a presentation on managing your vaccine plan. Learn how technology can support your efforts. We'll also give an update on what we've been doing to keep our organizations focused on forward progress in a pandemic. 

Counties play a major role in transportation and infrastructure, owning 45 percent of public roads and nearly 40 percent of America's bridges - more than any other public entity. As a result of the significant county stake, surface transportation laws and the funding and policies they authorize are critical for local projects. The current surface law, P.L. 114-94/the FAST Act, will expire in September. Join this Capitol Hill briefing to hear local priorities from county leaders, as well as outlooks and updates from Members of Congress tasked with renewing the surface transportation law.

Learn how counties, particularly small and medium-sized counties, can build more robust economies through new energy opportunities. Explore federal programs to help customers and local governments create greater energy affordability, security and resiliency.

In this webinar counties will hear from Biobot Analytics on how it uses technology to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in communities through wastewater sampling, which can be used to inform planning for mobile test centers and vaccination sites. Tune in to learn more about how you can use wastewater testing data as part of your long-term COVID-19 mitigation and response strategy.

Join the Human Services and Education Steering Committee for a discussion with our federal partners on new opportunities for strengthening the social safety net in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Congressional staff and officials from the White House Domestic Policy Council, U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Communications and Outreach and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agency for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services will join the meeting for updates and open discussion. Committee members will consider and vote on interim policy resolutions used to guide NACo’s advocacy efforts before Congress, the White House and federal agencies. Members will hear from sponsors who have submitted interim resolutions and have the opportunity to ask questions before voting on proposed measures.

In this webinar counties will hear from Biobot Analytics on how it uses technology to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in communities through wastewater sampling, which can be used to inform planning for mobile test centers and vaccination sites. Tune in to learn more about how you can use wastewater testing data as part of your long-term COVID-19 mitigation and response strategy.

Join your NABCO/NOBCO family for a presentation on managing your vaccine plan. Learn how technology can support your efforts. We'll also give an update on what we've been doing to keep our organizations focused on forward progress in a pandemic. 

Join NACo’s Veterans and Military Services Standing Committee to discuss how counties can work with our state, federal and local partners to address issues facing our nation’s veterans. During this meeting, committee members will be joined by congressional staff and officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to discuss major priorities such as helping veterans weather the COVID-19 pandemic, advancing solutions for veteran suicide prevention, expanding access to care and services for women veterans, and addressing toxic exposure. Partners will also share new resources and opportunities for serving military caregivers and provide a helpful overview of the county-military partnerships available through the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program.

Counties are supporting and leading local innovation to strengthen post-secondary education systems to promote economic mobility, improve outcomes and create career pathways for residents. Local leaders are leveraging the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and other federal programs to drive collaboration among county-based sectors and systems. This session explores the role and authority of counties in post-secondary education systems, including community colleges, and what is needed at the federal and local levels to improve career readiness opportunities.