America's nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees are on the frontlines of the nation's response to the coronavirus pandemic. As the country emerges from the pandemic and grapples with the toll it has taken on our citizens, counties are responding and rebuilding. At the same time, many counties are still confronting significant workforce shortage pressures at a time with growing, critical resident needs.

With American Rescue Plan funds, counties are strengthening America's workforce, addressing the nation's behavioral health crisis, expanding broadband access, improving housing affordability and building prosperous communities for the next generation.

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Supervisor Coe sits at the witness table prior to the hearing
Advocacy

NACo testifies before Congress on national forest partnerships, urges long-term SRS reauthorization

Modoc County, Calif. Supervisor Ned Coe testified before the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture on behalf of NACo this week, making the case for stronger federal-county partnerships in national forest management — and urging Congress to act on Secure Rural Schools (SRS) reauthorization before the program lapses at the end of fiscal year (FY) 2026.

Kern County, Calif. Economic Development sees Opportunity Zone success stories in Bakersfield.
County News

Designation period opens July 1 for new Opportunity Zones

Counties active in the Opportunity Zone process are highlighting census tracts that are ready for work to begin and where local, state and national economic development priorities are aligned.

Dakota County, Minn. libraries serve as community health hubs, which include mental health resource displays. Photo courtesy of Dakota County
County News

Minnesota county library addresses public health

Dakota County, Minn. identified libraries as trusted accessible spaces to be used as community health hubs. 

A rendering of the DuPage County, Ill. Crisis Recovery Center, which opened in September, shows off the first facility of its kind in the state to serve both adults and youth.
County News

Illinois county mental health center first in state to serve youth, adults

DuPage County, Ill. worked for nearly a decade to acquire the funding and public policy changes needed to create its Crisis Recovery Center.