National County Government Month
Celebrate the role of counties every April
About NCGM
National County Government Month (NCGM), held each April, is an annual celebration of county government. Since 1991, the National Association of Counties (NACo) has encouraged counties to actively promote county roles and responsibilities in serving residents. Counties can schedule activities any time during the month. NCGM is an excellent opportunity for your county to highlight effective or innovative county programs and raise public awareness of services provided to the community.
Getting Started
Counties can schedule activities any time during the month. The toolkit on this page is full of ideas, from press releases, to sample social posts, to event ideas and more.
The committee will plan, organize and coordinate all activities related to NCGM. Committee members should include representatives from the county board, administration, school system and each county department. Additionally, a public information officer or county official experienced in media relations should be included. Consider including a county extension service representative. This could be a staff member, 4-H volunteer or 4-H member. All areas of county government and schools should be involved in the planning process.
Plan activities throughout the month or organize just a few featured events. Hold fun, interactive and informative activities to reach different segments of your community, including students, educators, senior citizens, young families, business leaders and community organizations. Consider activities that will:
- Bring residents to county facilities such as the courthouse, parks, public safety building, public health department or a recycling/waste transfer station
- Deploy county officials to locations where residents are already assembled, like pre-planned events, festivals, or meetings
- Shed light on county activities and give a look behind the scenes in county government, like open houses or facility tours
Be sure members of the local news media are aware of NCGM and the activities your committee has planned. Consider involving a member of the news media in the planning process. Feel free to use the template press release included in this guide as a jumping off point.
Toolkit Sections
Ways to Celebrate
- Highlight Why Counties Matter
- Open the County to the Public
- School Involvement
- Call Your Member of Congress
Outreach Tools
- Media Strategies
- Sample Proclamation
- Sample Press Release
- Social Media Tools
- Download NCGM Logos & Graphics
Questions?
NACo is here to help. Click here to ask a question.
Highlight Why Counties Matter
Highlight county services and programs provided by your county, and tell the story of how county governments across the country fit into our intergovernmental system. Develop fact sheets, feature NACo's Counties 101 resources, plan events and more.
Counties Matter: Stronger Counties. Stronger America.
Educate the public on the crucial role of counties with a national overview explaining key county functions
The Marvelous Adventures of Countyland
The Marvelous Adventures of Countyland is an experimental publication created with generative artificial intelligence (AI). Its objectives are to showcase the capabilities of AI, to stimulate discussions regarding AI's applications in the public sector, and to inspire young people around the role of county government.
America's County Governments: A Short Primer on Our History, Definitions, Structures and Authorities
An in-depth look into the history of counties, our authority and structure, key county services and responsibilities and the intergovernmental partnership
Counties Work Game & Curriculum
NACo, together with iCivics, has created an online game and curriculum to educate students grade levels 6-12 about the important role and functions of county government.
Governing on the Ground
Governing on the Ground is an inside look at the complex challenges faced by officials as they strive to strengthen their communities. The book features 30 short chapters contributed by county leaders.
County Governance Project
A comprehensive guide to county government structure, authority, services and finances
The County Landscape
A detailed look at the role of counties through the lens of national and county-level data
County Explorer Data
Explore your county through over 1000 indicators and nearly 100 datasets.
Achievement Awards
The Achievement Awards is a non-competitive awards program recognizing innovative county government programs. Award-winning programs are featured in NACo content and celebrated at NACo's Annual Conference.
County Fact Sheets
Use these questions to develop your own county's fact sheets, then distribute them to media, post them on your website and share on social media.
- How many children, senior citizens or veterans received county services last year?
- Does your county support a child mentoring program or local food bank?
- How is your county investing in early childhood development?
- How many trained emergency responders are employed by the county?
- How many trained volunteer emergency responders serve the county?
- How many emergency calls were responded to last year?
- How many bookings were processed at the county jail last year?
- What is the daily average jail population?
- How many patients were served last year at county hospitals and clinics?
- How many health department inspections were conducted last year?
- How many vaccinations were administered last year?
- How many emergency room visits were made last year?
- How many nursing homes are in the county?
- How many county residents have health insurance?
- How many seniors did your county serve last year?
- How does your county support caregivers?
- Does your county have programs to assist residents with mobility challenges?
- How many people are unemployed in the county?
- What is the average county wage?
- How many residents received direct job training or unemployment services last year?
- How many businesses have been added to the county? How many new jobs have they brought in?
- How many veterans are in your county?
- How does your county serve veterans in your community?
Ways to Celebrate
Open the County to the Public
Offer In-Person or Virtual Tours
Be sure to keep the public informed of what’s happening on the front lines. Stream meetings over your social media outlets and other digital platforms or offer virtual tours of meeting spaces.
Encourage Volunteerism
Inform residents of how they can help and what communities or businesses in your county they can offer aid to.
Ways to Celebrate
School Involvement
Include schools in your National County Government Month activities to enable students to learn about county government.
Counties Work Online Game and My County Works Activity Book
NACo, together with iCivics, has created a full curriculum to educate students, grades 6 through 12, about the important role and functions of county government.
This year, we're aiming for 100,000 plays of Counties Work during the month of April!
Ways to Celebrate
Call Your Member of Congress
National County Government Month is an ideal time to discuss national policy issues affecting county government with members of Congress who represent your county. Schedule a call with your congressional representative(s) or key staff in your congressional district office. Use the call to explain the great challenges facing your county and how Congress can help.
Many important issues are being debated nationally that affect counties. Be prepared with facts and information about how specific federal issues affect your county. Know where your member of Congress stands on important issues and on which committees he or she serves. Your message should be focused, compelling and relevant.
Media and Content Strategy
Your one-stop shop for media guides and NCGM design templates to produce your county’s own posters, flyers, banners, proclamations and buttons.
These additions are sure to enhance the festive atmosphere of your NCGM events. Plenty of space is available for you to add your county’s seal or unique county government month slogan or message. If you find something you want to use, download the file and add your county’s local touch.
Media Relations
Careful planning is essential to maximize public awareness of National County Government Month activities and the county services and programs you are highlighting. Here are effective ways to help secure positive coverage.
Inform local reporters, editors and broadcasters early and often about NCGM and your county’s plans to celebrate it.
Coordinate newsworthy events or announcements. You can launch new initiatives, announce plans for new programs or recognize county employees for their excellent public service. Keep in mind that newspapers seek in-depth facts, television stations want good visuals and radio reporters want snappy sounds bites. All reporters seek good stories. They want access to knowledgeable and articulate sources to make their stories interesting and informative.
Publish a calendar of NCGM events on your county’s website. Ask the local newspapers to publish the calendar. Ask the local television, cable and radio stations to air public service announcements about county services or events.
Prepare and send media notices well in advance for specific NCGM events. Describe who, what, where, when and why. Make it newsworthy.
Have news releases ready to distribute to the media the day of special NCGM events. Highlight what’s new, beneficial and cost-effective. Use lively, concise quotes from appropriate county officials. Provide contact information.
Actively engage with media to deliver the message that counties matter. All counties, regardless of size, can hold virtual press conferences, media tours of county facilities and programs, and effectively pitch reporters, editors and producers.
Social Media Resources
If you already have a page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram or another platform, use it to promote activities and carry messages during NCGM. Coordinate a county government month social media team to plan social media outreach efforts and make sure you have lots of photos from all the events.
Have a question?
NACo is here to help. Complete the form, and a member of NACo staff will reach out to provide assistance.