Strengthening America's Counties
Healthy, safe and vibrant counties across America
We Are Counties
We Are Counties. We are 3,069 strong.
From urban to rural, large to small, America’s counties, parishes and boroughs keep our communities healthy, vibrant and safe. Learn more and join the movement.
Apply Now! Initiatives and Cohorts
NACo partners with thought leaders, industry partners and philanthropic organizations to identify and elevate best practices in key areas of county responsibility. NACo programming enhances public understanding of county government and supports the learning and development of America’s county leaders.
Mental Health Awareness Month: County Participation Toolkit
By showcasing how county governments provide vital behavioral health services and resources and by advocating for key mental health reforms—including repealing harmful exclusionary Medicaid policies, bolstering local crisis response infrastructure, supporting the behavioral health workforce, and ensuring mental health parity—we can effect significant change.
House passes the 2026 Farm Bill with key county priorities
On April 30, the House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) by a vote of 224–200.
2026 NACo Federal Policy Priorities
NACo’s 2026 federal policy priorities outline counties’ shared federal agenda and serve as a roadmap for our collective advocacy on the issues most critical to county governments and the communities we serve.
Housing Affordability Resource Hub
This resource hub brings together data, analysis and tools to support county leaders in expanding housing access and affordability for their residents.
Surface Transportation Reauthorization Advocacy Toolkit
In this resource, you will find tools and best practices to help educate and engage with Congress, the Administration and the public on the importance of county infrastructure and the need for direct federal support.
White House Releases Budget Request for FY 2027: Analysis for Counties
This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of proposed increases, cuts or eliminations to key federal programs in the president’s budget appendix for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 that are relevant to county governments and a summary of the budget outlining items of note for county governments.
Federal Permitting Reform: What County Leaders Need to Know
This explainer breaks down what federal permitting reform means, why it matters for counties and what’s happening in Washington.
Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act: A County Advocacy Toolkit
This toolkit is designed to help county leaders understand four of the top county policy wins that NACo fought to include in the FEMA Act, explain how these provisions would impact counties and provide clear, actionable guidance on how counties can advocate for the bill’s passage.
Federal Reforms to Medicaid Financing: What Counties Should Know
Learn about proposed federal reforms to Medicaid financing and their potential implications for county budgets and service delivery.
Guide for Developing Housing on County-Owned Land
The report provides counties with a practical, five-step framework for developing affordable housing on county-owned land, covering site selection, zoning review, financial feasibility, developer procurement and community engagement. It highlights how counties can reduce development costs, leverage public assets and build community support to expand affordable housing production.
Conference
2026 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition
Register today for the 2026 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition, the premier annual gathering of elected and appointed officials from the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs.
What We Do
Through NACo, counties engage with our intergovernmental partners, share best practices, develop leaders and save resources, building stronger counties that result in a stronger America.
3,069
County Governments
40,000
County Elected Officials
3.6M
County Employees
Advocate for County Policy Priorities
Advocacy
Visit NACo‘s advocacy hub to learn about county priorities in federal policymaking, tools to help you take action and read our latest updates.
Find Solutions for Your Community
Solutions
Discover innovative solutions from NACo EDGE, access our professional development opportunities and explore our latest initiatives and resources.
Participate in a NACo Event
NACo Events
In addition to a robust slate of virtual events held throughout the year, NACo holds dozens of in-person events, from peer exchanges to fly-ins.
Telling the County Story
Through our Counties 101 curriculum and full suite of civic engagement tools, share how counties are on the front lines, delivering vital services for our residents.
Latest News
Major Housing Bill Update: What Counties Need to Know About the Updated 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
Join NACo for a timely briefing on the latest version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which reflects key changes NACo fought for on behalf of county governments nationwide.
Breaking the Cycle: Behavioral Health Diversion Strategies for Counties
This interactive fireside chat brings together county leaders and behavioral health experts to explore how communities are building the diversion infrastructure to change outcomes.
NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties, May 21
Join NACo for a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties.
Protecting and Preparing for Income in Retirement
Friday, May 22, 2026 | 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. ET
This presentation examines how recent Department of Labor guidance is shaping the use of Protected Retirement Income Solutions in Defined Contribution Plans including your NACo Deferred Compensation Program (457b). It highlights Plan fiduciary responsibilities, regulatory safe harbors, and key considerations for you as a Plan Sponsor or Participant in evaluating Lifetime Income Options. Through practical case studies, attendees gain insight into how plan sponsors can implement income‑focused solutions that address participant demand while supporting prudent fiduciary decision‑making. Also, as a participant, should these Lifetime Income Options be a part of my personal financial plan.
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.
For more information, visit the event page!
From Classroom to County: Leading with High-Performance Results
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
How do county leaders move from theory to transformative action? This webinar features a panel of graduates from the NACo High Performance Leadership Academy who will share real-world examples of the program's 5 essential skills.
- Lead: Fostered cultures of accountability within their local governments
- Organize: Managed complex organizational change
- Collaborate: How they’ve broken down departmental silos
- Deliver: Drive better community outcomes
- Communicate: How to effectively speak the language of the organization across diverse stakeholder groups
Attendees will gain actionable insights on how to apply these high-performance strategies to their own organizations. Whether you are an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, join us to discover how to bridge the gap between leadership potential and measurable impact.
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.
For more information, visit the event page!
Grassroots Advocacy Series: Unlocking Tools to Tell Your County Story
This session will highlight how county leaders can leverage NACo tools and resources to effectively engage in federal advocacy.
Get Involved
Engage with Our Programs & Initiatives
Explore our directory of programs and initiatives and find opportunities to get involved with NACo. The directory is your playbook for NACo's committees, initiatives and tools for counties.
Get Your County’s Competitive EDGE Today
NACo EDGE delivers value-added, cost-cutting solutions to counties by evaluating their needs and harnessing the collective purchasing power of 3,069 counties with a dedicated workforce of 3.6 million employees.
Stay up-to-date on America's counties with NACo's award-winning County News.
WIR meeting focuses on disaster recovery following Maui wildfire
Drawing an all-time high for the Western Interstate Region Conference, Maui County and its recent wildfire offered attendees a look at a sophisticated recovery effort.
Hawai'i locals stress planning to avoid extractive tourism
As a popular tourist destination, Hawai’i faces a challenge shared by many public lands counties — being loved to death.
In Memoriam: Unfunded mandate reform bill sponsor Dirk Kempthorne
As a freshman senator, Dirk Kempthorne passed a law making it more difficult for Congress to impose the costs of mandates on state and local governments.
San Diego County addresses growing gaps in arts funding
San Diego County, Calif. is investing millions of dollars into arts and culture programming for diverse and underserved communities as the city of San Diego prepares to slash $11.8 million in arts and culture grants.
Join NACo and Lead
NACo unites nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees to advocate for county priorities, promote exemplary county policies and practices, nurture leadership skills, optimize county and taxpayer resources, and enrich the public’s understanding of county government.
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