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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FEMA
Advocacy

FEMA delays $11 billion in state disaster reimbursements

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently withheld roughly $11 billion in planned disaster reimbursements to 45 states, shifting the payments to fiscal year 2026 and marking a major change in how the federal government is managing disaster relief funding. 

THE_County Countdown_working_image-4.png
Advocacy

County Countdown – October 20, 2025

Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. This week features

Karina Reyes, a Strength Based Community Change economic development coach, works with Elijah, a BREATHE participant. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles County
County News

County program helps boost foster youth into adulthood

A Los Angeles County guaranteed income program, dubbed “BREATHE,” is helping set up low-income residents — including more than 2,000 foster youth aging out of care — for success by providing them with monthly payments, no strings attached. 

Audrain County, Mo. Commissioner Leslie Meyer Photo by Devin Zagar/7 Foot Productions
County News

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.

economicmobility
County News

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.