Local Government ARPA Investment Tracker

On July 28, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the findings of its annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which provides data on rates of substance use and mental illness at the national, state and local level. 

On April 4, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced it will not allocate $750 million this year for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. According to the press release, FEMA will also stop funding BRIC projects that were previously approved and are still underway.

Rural communities face unique health care challenges, from provider shortages to funding disparities. To address these concerns, the U.S. Senate recently introduced two bipartisan bills aimed at improving rural health care access and funding: the Rural Health Focus Act and the Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act.

On August 5, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published an updated list of designated “sanctuary jurisdictions” following the Administration’s Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens Executive Order.

On July 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $14 million through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Brownfields Job Training Grants Program. This program helps communities impacted by brownfield sites—blighted, contaminated properties—build local workforces to support site cleanup and redevelopment.

On August 1, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced nearly $1 billion in new grant funding to help states, local governments, tribes and territories strengthen disaster preparedness.

Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week six of a biweekly series on key developments from the White House and Congress. Discussions will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties — from federal funding and regulatory changes to intergovernmental partnerships. Tune in for an inside look at how these evolving federal dynamics may shape county priorities, responsibilities and operations.

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

The digital era is upon us, and it has many leaders challenged by the digital transformation in front of them. NACo CIO Rita Reynolds and Dr. Tim Rahschulte, the chief architects of NACo’s AI Leadership Academy training program, are hosting this webinar to share insights and ideas on how some leaders are harnessing the power of digital products, services and processes to do more with less. 

Rita and Tim will demystify the digital era by looking to the past and providing insights into the future – that is, in many ways, predictable. Join this webinar to explore the key elements of digital transformation and learn practical strategies to prepare for the digital future. To be sure, this digital future is not all about technology. The digital era is also about meeting customer expectations, employee accommodations and leveraging models to operate the business of government. We will explore together the importance of building a digital-ready organization and the need for skilling employees to meet new demands of new work.

This webinar is brought to you by NACo EDGE, establishing people, purchasing, and performance cost-saving solutions that can be applied to counties nationwide. EDGE is owned by NACo, advised by county leaders and 100% focused on solutions for U.S. Counties. Learn more about NACo EDGE here.

Join NACo on Tuesday, August 26 at 3:00 p.m. ET for a timely webinar outlining major changes to federal funding, grant conditions, and policy priorities that directly affect county homelessness programs, behavioral health systems and enforcement strategies.

Wednesday, August 27, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

The financial landscape for counties is evolving quickly, with rising costs, shifting federal support and growing expectations becoming part of everyday reality. This is what many are calling “the Big Shift,” a period that is reshaping how counties plan, prioritize and manage resources. In this webinar, Mike Ablowich, a seasoned public finance leader and Vice President at three+one, will share what the Big Shift means for counties today and five actionable strategies to help leaders remain proactive, confident and effective during this time of change. From strengthening liquidity management to using data to guide impactful actions, you will gain practical tools and insights you can put to work right away to protect your county’s financial health and unlock new opportunities, no matter how the environment continues to evolve.

This webinar is brought to you by NACo EDGE, establishing people, purchasing, and performance cost-saving solutions that can be applied to counties nationwide. EDGE is owned by NACo, advised by county leaders and 100% focused on solutions for U.S. Counties. Learn more about NACo EDGE here.

The National Council of County Association Executives (NCCAE) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) will host the Federal-State Policy Exchange (formerly, the Knowledge Management Forum), August 27-29 in Cook County (Chicago), Ill.

Thursday, September 4, 2025 |  2:00 - 3:00 PM Eastern Time 

Discover the technological evolution of county disbursements and how digital finance transformation can mitigate risks and enhance operational efficiency. As counties strive to modernize their legacy systems and reduce costs, staying ahead of technology trends is crucial. This session will explore how counties can leverage the latest advancements in real-time disbursements to revolutionize their payout processes. Attendees will gain insights into emerging trends and practical use cases that showcase the journey from outdated payout processes to advanced technology disbursements.