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Lisa Macon Harrison, director of the Granville Vance Public Health District in North Carolina, describes the landmines inherent in small rural communities that can serve as barriers to effective treatment for substance use disorders. Photo by Charlie Ban
County News

Recovery requires ‘whole person’ care

Elected officials can help promote the use of a more holistic approach to combatting substance use disorder. 

Then-NACo President Betty Lou Ward testifies in 1998. To her left are then-NACo Executive Director Larry Naake and then-Legislative Director Ed Rosado. Photo by David Hathcox
County News

Arts champion, NACo president, Betty Lou Ward dies at 87

Her involvement with her children's PTAs drove Betty Lou Ward to run for the Wake County, N.C. Board of Commissioners to work to improve schools, libraries and parks.

Ryan Thorn (center) USDA Rural Development director for West Virginia, discusses the details of the Rural Development program. (L-r): Shawn Milne, Cache County, Utah; Lenita Jacobs-Simmons, U.S. Department of Labor; Thorn and Barbara Dawes, West Virginia Workforce Development Board. Photo by Sheena Pendley
County News

Lack of broadband, housing challenge rural counties on workforce development

Although the lack of broadband, transit, childcare and housing are all stacked against rural counties as they develop the kind of robust workforce that can attract business, planning and relationships between state and local government can help alleviate some of those challenges. 

Hot Topic: Boosting Broadband

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Workforce
County News

Counties get creative to attract workforce in the face of a labor shortage

Even with federal support like the American Rescue Plan Act and the CARES Act, local government is one of only two sectors yet to return to pre-pandemic levels of employment, as all other major industry sector employment continues to grow.

Ariel imagery shows the devastation in Maui County following wildfires accelerated by hurricane winds. Photo courtesy of EagleView Technologies
County News

Generosity inspires hope for Maui County leaders following wildfires

Maui County agencies are trying to help fire victims peice their lives back together as the scope of destruction becomes more apparent. Maui Nui Strong is accepting donations for aid.

Kevin Leonard, executive director of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners cracks a joke before state association directors get down to business. Photo by Leon Lawrence III
County News

Build relationships with state legislators, media to avoid local government preemption laws

The past decade has seen a drastic increase in states passing laws that preempt county authority and limit local policymaking.

White House Senior Advisor Tom Perez addresses the NACo Board July 23. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

White House Advisor Tom Perez to county officials: ‘Let’s keep the momentum going’

Formerly a Montgomery County, Md. Council member, Tom Perez is now the White House director of intergovernmental affairs.

Volunteer Gwinnett partners with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to combat food insecurity, distributing 40 to 50 pounds of produce and shelf-stable items across the county weekly.
County News

County’s mobile market closes the grocery desert gap

Gwinnett County, Ga. teamed up with a food bank to create a mobile community market to alleviate food insecurity, which had increased during the pandemic.

Participants in Housing Forward's train-the-trainer session learned skills and needed to help facilitate future training sessions, expanding the nonprofit's caseworker roster. Dallas County, Texas's support for Housing Forward has helped support an increase in caseworker capacity. Photo courtesy of Housing Forward
County News

Collaboration helps Dallas County, Texas reduce homelessness

Dallas County, Texas's support for a local nonprofit has helped fund housing subsidies and additional case managers, contributing to a 32% reduction in chronic homelessness in less than two years.

Bright Ideas Aug. 7 Image.jpeg
County News

County library teams up with jail to offer resources to incarcerated individuals

The Salt Lake County Library teamed up with the county jail to educate inmates on how to navigate the library, including using employment resources.

County News Spotlight: Disaster Mitigation

Stories from our partners

NACo partners with the private sector on solutions.

Together, we are highlighting innovative solutions for counties, as we work with our federal, state, local and private sector partners to build healthy, safe and vibrant communities.

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Programmers
News

Why customer-centric strategy is vital for digital service adoption

The importance of a customer-centric strategy in digital service adoption for county governments is emphasized, highlighting the need for thoughtful design, clear communication, and multi-channel engagement to meet user expectations and improve customer experience.

EMS
News

Fighting opioid addiction – one life at a time

The opioid crisis, a major national issue, saw a 55% increase in drug overdose deaths from 2019 to 2022, with 75% involving opioids. Effective strategies to combat this include integrated care, policy enhancement, and technology, focusing on whole-person care and intervention opportunities to save lives.

Building facade
News

Planning for the post-American Rescue Plan Act future

Guidehouse outlines strategies for state and local governments to sustain programs after the end of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) funding. It emphasizes the need for reassessing constituent needs, measuring program impact, and considering fiscal implications to ensure long-term viability and effective resource allocation for programs initially funded by SLFRF.

Group with hands in
News

How voluntary benefits can help improve your employee benefit package

Voluntary benefits, tailored to diverse employee needs and often at reduced costs, are proving essential in enhancing employer benefit packages, attracting, and retaining talent, and addressing specific wellbeing issues across different age and income groups.

Deterra
News

A countywide opioid misuse prevention campaign is easier to implement than you think

The Deterra Household Mailing Campaign delivers educational tools and deactivation pouches directly to homes. To save lives by tackling the opioid crisis.

Fire danger sign
News

From prevention to resilience: Strategies in wildfire mitigation

Explore a multifaceted approach to wildfire mitigation with Tidal Basin. From creating defensible spaces to early detection systems, discover strategies fostering resilient communities, protecting lives & property. Urgent action is crucial amidst rising wildfire risks. Learn more at TidalBasinGroup.com. 

San Francisco smog
News

A breathing crisis: Rising concerns over U.S. air quality

Facing a stark rise in hazardous air quality, the U.S. grapples with the health implications of escalating pollutants. The alarming data from the American Lung Association urges a renewed focus on air quality management. Federal and local initiatives are in play, yet a unified approach is crucial to mitigate risks and safeguard public health. 

Laptop
News

Cybersecurity insurance can be affordable

Cybersecurity insurance rates rose significantly in 2022, with some policyholders experiencing up to 100% rate increases due to the evolving threat landscape and their own cybersecurity measures. CAI emphasizes the importance of understanding and improving an organization's cybersecurity maturity using the NIST 2.0 framework, which can not only strengthen protection against cyber threats but also potentially lower insurance premiums.

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News

Equitable climate resilience (ECR) for local governments: Using data to drive decision making

Discover vital strategies for embedding social equity in your climate resilience plans.

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News

Everything you need to know about artificial intelligence and GIS

Explore the transformative power of AI & GIS in county government operations.

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News

How counties are taking control of constituent communication

Discover the best strategies for effective constituent communication.

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News

How counties can extend the reach of drug disposal programs with at-home drug deactivation and disposal

Now is a critical time for counties to engage their communities in the prevention of drug misuse.

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News

Pima County leans into innovation to enhance sustainability

Pima County leans into innovation to enhance sustainability.

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County News Contacts

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Mary Ann Barton

County News Editor & Senior Writer
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Charlie Ban

County News Digital Editor & Senior Writer
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Meredith Moran

County News Junior Staff Writer

Media Contact

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Nicole Weissman

Director of Strategic Communications