County News: 2024 NACo Annual Conference

Dominique Dawes holds her Olympic gold medal as she delivers an inspiring address to NACo members July 14 at the Tampa Convention Center. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Olympic gymnast: ‘Check your ego at the door’ to excel at teamwork

Three-time Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes championed teamwork, saying “checking your ego at the door” is the key to success, at NACo’s General Session on July 14. 

Davison County, S.D. auditor Susan Kiepke recounts asking her friends if their college-aged children would be interested in working her county’s post-election audit. Orange County, Fla. Mayor Jerry Demings sits to her left. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Counties are positioned to heal dissatisfaction with American democracy

When political tension threatens to further divide Americans, it falls to county governments to build on the connections and demonstrate the responsiveness that engenders trust and confidence. 

King County, Wash. Executive Dow Constantine discusses the final report of the NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing July 13 at the Opening General Session as his co-chair, Los Angeles County, Calif. Supervisor Kathryn Barger and other commission members look on. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Policy priorities to improve mental health unveiled in NACo commission final report

The NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing outlined its policy priorities to improve mental health in its final report unveiled Saturday, July 13 at the Annual Conference.

Mobile County, Ala. Commissioner Merceria Ludgood accepts the Public Leadership in the Arts Award July 13 from Jay Dick of Americans for the Arts and Dakota County, Minn. Commissioner Mary Hamann-Roland, who chairs the NACo Arts and Culture Commission, at the Tampa Museum of Art. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Public Leadership in the Arts Award goes to Mobile County commissioner

Surrounded by her peers Saturday, July 13, Mobile County, Ala. Commissioner Merceria Ludgood received the Public Leadership in the Arts Award from Americans for the Arts at a reception held at the Tampa Museum of Art during the NACo Annual Conference.

Tareq Azim at the 2024 NACo Annual Conference general session. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Tareq Azim shares strength borne by fear

Author, coach and entrepreneur Tareq Azim spoke about confronting fear and changing narratives during the Opening General Session.

David Stafford, Region 4 Election Security Advisor for CISA, talks about tools to make counties and county officials safer. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

CISA offers tools to protect you and your county

Disinformation campaigns by foreign adversary bots, rumors flying on neighborhood message boards, increasingly partisan politics all play a part in making for a more unsafe world for county officials.

Coconino County, Ariz. Supervisor Lena Fowler tells members of the Arts and Culture Commission about the benefits of cultural tourism. Photo by Leon Lawrence III
County News

County, Native Americans work together to create ‘cultural tourism’

Coconino County, Ariz. and the Navajo Nation have built a partnership together to create cultural tourism initiatives, both educating visitors on Native American history and traditions and benefiting the local economy. 

Heidi Stiller of NOAA talks to members of the NACo Resilient Counties Advisory Board Saturday, July 13 about how to sharpen communication efforts before and during a disaster. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

A key to managing disasters: Targeted communication

Define your risk communication audience and outcome, understand your priority audience and connect with that audience.

SAMHSA is prioritizing peer-centered recovery, among other ways to combat youth substance use disorder, Sonia Chessen, SAMHSA’s deputy assistant secretary, said Friday, July 12 at the NACo Health Steering Committee meeting. Photo by Leon Lawrence III
County News

Collaboration and mental health support address youth substance use disorder

Counties are investing in education, harm reduction and peer support recovery to combat unintentional overdoses. 

Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center, describes the cycles of sensitivity to foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Most foreign-owned ag land remains in friendly hands

Despite cycles of concern about foreign ownership, less than 4% of U.S. private agricultural land is owned by foreign entities, and only 12 states have enacted laws limiting foreign ownership.

Dennis Alvord, assistant executive director of the First Responder Network Authority, speaks Friday, July 12 to members of the NACo Telecommunications and Technology Steering Committee. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Public agency expands first responder network

Twenty-three years after the 9/11 tragedy, a public agency created in its wake to help better connect first responders during emergencies is continuing to ramp up improvements to its networks.

Nathan Boyd describes the dramatic reduction in herbicide use, and the number of computers the humidity had fried, when the University of Florida applied machine learning to herbicide application. Photo by Charlie Ban
County News

Artificial intelligence teases agricultural “revolution”

A University of Florida researcher sees great potential for artificial intellligence to help overcome agriculture's labor shortage.

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Opportunities to Engage

Get involved with NACo! Find open opportunities for cohorts, initiatives and working groups, learn how to join a committee and make a difference, or check our our membership roadmap to learn more about getting involved.

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Counties for Housing Solutions

NACo is partnering with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to provide technical assistance for large urban counties to advance upward economic mobility through policy designed to tackle housing supply and affordability challenges.

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How to Get Involved with NACo

Join a committee and make a difference. NACo members have the opportunity to serve on 31 committees, caucuses, task forces and advisory boards to inform national policymaking and help solve problems impacting counties, boroughs and parishes.

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Directory of Programs & Resources

Your playbook for NACo's committees, initiatives and cost saving programs

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NACo Membership Roadmap

When your county is a member of NACo, all county elected officials and staff are members. Find the tools you need to make the most of your NACo membership

Upcoming Events

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Webinar

Implementing County Web Accessibility Standards: Overview and Strategy Session

Join NACo as we hear from the DOJ for an overview of the new DOJ guidance, ask questions, and engage in a panel to discuss implementation strategies, challenges, and opportunities for counties. 

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Webinar

Powerful Partnerships: How Coal Communities and Utility Companies are Working Together

Join the BRECC National Network this July and learn how utility providers and local governments are working together to mitigate and respond to economic shocks. 

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Webinar

Building a Behavioral Health Continuum of Care: The Role of Rural Leaders and Behavioral Health Directors

This webinar is hosted by the National Association of Counties (NACo) in partnership with the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Development Disability Directors (NACBHDD).

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Webinar

Prevention to Treatment: Substance Use Disorder Solution Strategies

Our discussion will cover what's available, what's currently working, differences in approach, and potential strategies for various populations including the underserved population.
 

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Webinar

Transforming Justice Through Collaboration

Join NACo to discuss how to leverage cross-system partnerships to address root causes leading to justice involvement.

St. Paul, MN
Conference

2024 NCCAE-NACo Knowledge Management Forum

Ramsey County (St. Paul), Minn.

The 2024 NCCAE-NACo Knowledge Management Forum, held August 14–16 at the Association of Minnesota Counties headquarters in Ramsey County (St. Paul), Minn., will bring together representatives from state associations and NACo for strategic discussions on shared policy priorities, with a focus on emerging county issues, such as economic development, housing and tax reform.

County News

Stay up-to-date on America's counties with NACo's award-winning County News.

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County News

Child welfare program asks families: ‘What do you need?’ before their breaking point

Stearns County, Minn. let families tell the system the support they need and bring together all of the stakeholders to make that possible.

Randolph County, Ill. renovated unused space at a county-owned nursing home, using grants to create a behavioral health center.
County News

Randolph County, Ill. turns unused part of nursing home into state-of-the-art behavioral health center

The strategy uses existing infrastructure and keeps occupancy high in a building that had seen vacancy remain high in recent years.

Advocacy Resources

Detailed analysis and customizable tools to support outreach on federal policy issues.

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Implementing Infrastructure Investments at the County Level: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58)

On November 15, 2021, President Biden enacted the five-year, $973 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

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Legislative Analysis for Counties: FY 2024 Appropriations

In March 2024, Congress passed and the president signed two Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 “minibus” appropriations bills to fund the federal government through September 30, 2024.

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Legislative Analysis: Impact of PFAS Regulations on Counties

NACo's analysis provides an in-depth examination of current and proposed regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their implications for county governments.

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Cost-Saving Tools

Solutions from NACo EDGE

NACo EDGE establishes sustainable, cost-saving and value-added solutions that can be applied to counties nationwide. By providing quality solutions, we strive to develop and maintain healthy, vibrant and safe counties across the United States.

Learn More

Solutions for Counties

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NACo Deferred Compensation Program

NACo's Deferred Compensation Program has helped more than 1.5 million county employees and retirees save for and live comfortably in retirement. More than 423,000 county employees from over 3,000 county agencies participate, with accumulated assets of more than $25 billion.

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Public Promise Insurance

Public Promise Insurance is a fully licensed provider that strengthens local governments. We provide voluntary benefits to public employees and their families with cost effective and best-in-class solutions.

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Public Promise Procurement

Providing public sector and other entities with a vetted, transparent option for purchasing goods and services more efficiently and cost effectively.

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Hire Quality Staff | NACo Career Center

Good employees are crucial to getting the job done. NACo provides a method for counties to find the right people to fill staffing vacancies.

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Live Healthy U.S. Counties

The NACo Live Healthy Prescription, Health & Dental Discount Program is a no-cost program available to all member counties, providing relief to uninsured and underinsured Americans facing growing health costs.

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cashvest® by threeplusone®

cashvest® by threeplusone® provides a new and unparalleled level of liquidity analysis and data services for local, county, school district and community college governing bodies.

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ClearGov®

ClearGov® is the leading provider of budget cycle management software, focused on helping local governments streamline the annual budgeting process.

Female instructor stands in front of a Mental Health First Aide poster and answers an attendee question.

Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

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NACo High Performance Leadership Academy

The NACo High Performance Leadership Academy is an innovative, completely online 12-week program created to equip frontline county government professionals with practical leadership skills to deliver results for counties and communities.

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NACo Enterprise Cybersecurity Leadership Academy

The NACo Enterprise Cybersecurity Leadership Academy is an online 12-week collaborative readiness program led by Fortune 500 CISOs and peers who deliver a proven framework and insights on leading and securing a network and an organization.

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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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