Economic and Workforce Development Programming
NACo economic and workforce development programming elevates and drives county innovation in diversifying local economies and building robust workforce development systems and cross-sector partnerships. Participating counties are developing custom solutions to enhance local revenue and strengthen economies and support the economic mobility of our residents by increasing housing supply and connecting residents to meaningful work in the public and private sectors. NACo staff are actively studying barriers to public sector recruitment and retention to help counties address workforce challenges and build a resilient county workforce.
Launched in 2024, Counties for Housing Solutions helped 23 county teams implement strategies to develop publicly owned land and modernize zoning codes. The first 15 counties to participate have already moved forward with plans to increase local housing supply by an estimated 12,000 units.
Current Programming
Counties for Housing Solutions
NACo’s Counties for Housing Solutions program offers free three-month technical assistance sprints to address this challenge by helping counties increase local housing supply.
Rural Leaders for Economic Mobility
Rural Leaders for Economic Mobility is a knowledge-sharing peer learning network that will empower local government leaders and partners from 10 low-population counties.
Economic Recovery Corps
Recent Past Economic and Workforce Development Programming
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.
Counties for Career Success
The Counties for Career Success initiative supported counties in enhancing pathways to education and employment. The 2023-2024 cohort received technical assistance, expert guidance and peer learning opportunities.
Economic Mobility Leadership Network
The network supports county leaders to develop successful economic mobility strategies for their local communities.
How To Get Involved
- Join the Economic Mobility newsletter featuring our latest news and resources.
Sign Up for Updates
Key Resources
BRECC Economic Diversification Toolkit: Guide to Diversify Rural and Transitioning Economies
The toolkit supports all counties across the country to prepare for and recover from economic shocks, such as industry downturn, supply chain disruption, consumer demand change or natural disaster.
Economic Mobility Resource Hub
Explore these resources to promote inclusive economic prosperity for county residents.
Guide for Developing Housing on County-Owned Land
The report provides counties with a practical, five-step framework for developing affordable housing on county-owned land, covering site selection, zoning review, financial feasibility, developer procurement and community engagement. It highlights how counties can reduce development costs, leverage public assets and build community support to expand affordable housing production.
NACo Election Administration Resource Hub for Counties
The resource hub connect county officials with existing resources and FAQs and best practices on election administration.
Counties and Railroads: Shared Priorities for the Next Surface Transportation Bill
County leaders from across the country have a vital opportunity to ensure their infrastructure priorities are front and center.
House reintroduces bipartisan legislation to level playing field for rural communities
House reintroduced the Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act, bipartisan legislation intended to advance economic development in rural counties and overcome barriers to obtaining federal funding and resources.
Podcast: Eastern Tennessee counties invest in tourism during shutdown
Sevier County, Tenn. refused to let the government shutdown devastate its fall tourism draw—Great Smoky Mountains National Park. County Mayor Larry Waters describes the lengths he and his neighbors went to keep the park open. And NACo Chief Government Affairs Officer Mark Ritacco offers an outlook on what counties can take away from the shutdown and into the future.
Congress introduces Bipartisan HOME Reform Act
On October 21, 2025, Reps. Mike Flood (R-NE.) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO.) introduced the HOME Reform Act, which would make substantial changes to the eligible uses and exemptions applying to the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program.
County leadership guides shared prosperity
There’s no chicken-or-egg debate: Economic mobility is not just a byproduct of growth — it is the result of intentional county governance.
Chamber of commerce program helps keep workers on the job
Employers are thriving in Audrain County, Mo. because their workers are thriving, thanks to the local chamber of commerce's programming to help meet employees' needs.
Program Lead
