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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Alaska Public Lands
Advocacy

NACo WIR submits recommendations for public lands transportation needs

On September 8, NACo’s Western Interstate Region (WIR) submitted comments and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)’s Request for Information to as the agency develops its priorities for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill.

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Advocacy

County Countdown – October 6, 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 a federal shutdown FAQ, overdose prevention funding and more.

Thermal power plant burning coal fossil fuel for production of electrical energy. Kingston power station in Roane County, Tennessee
Advocacy

DOI, DOE and the EPA announce new funding and regulatory measures to support U.S. coal industry

On September 29, the U.S. Departments of the Interior (DOI), Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced coordinated actions to expand domestic coal production and coal-fired energy generation. 

Officers from the Henrico County Police Division’s community services department discuss how they collaborate to help keep mentally ill people from continual jail visits. Photo by Meredith Moran
County News

Law enforcement, mental health pros collaborate in Virginia county

Henrico County, Va.’s crisis response continuum brings together law enforcement and behavioral health professionals to de-escalate mental health crises and avoid unnecessary incarcerations and hospitalizations.

Farming
Advocacy

Farm Bill expiration: What counties need to know

On September 30, 2025, the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, officially known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334), expired.

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Advocacy

HHS relaunches applications for TANF Pilot Program

This month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services relaunched applications for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Pilot Program, authorized by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.