Podcast: Talking with Public Lands County Leaders, Part I
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The inaugural episode of the National Center for Public Lands podcast features a conversation between NACo Executive Director Matt Chase and Lincoln County, Nev. Commissioner Varlin Higbee. In the latter half of the episode, Fremont County, Colo. Commissioner Dwayne McFall sits down for a conversation with County News' Charlie Ban.
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National Center for Public Lands Counties
The NACo Center for Public Lands Counties is dedicated to advancing the policy and practice study of America’s public lands counties. Our mission is to deepen the understanding and address the unique challenges faced by counties containing federal lands through strategic research and collaboration.
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On July 24, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a major reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will relocate thousands of federal employees, restructure regional offices and consolidate administrative services and operations. The changes are expected to reduce USDA’s footprint in Washington, D.C. and shift more personnel to regional hubs across the country.
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.
Interest in energy generation builds in the West
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