On alternating weeks, NACo's Resource Roundup highlights opportunities, reports, upcoming events and other tools, and the County Countdown provides a review of key policy items for county leaders.
The Federal Government Shutdown Resource Hub provides counties with real-time tools, data and advocacy materials to navigate the impacts of the ongoing federal government shutdown.
Why it matters: With FY 2026 appropriations stalled, essential federal programs counties rely on — such as nutrition assistance, disaster recovery and transportation funding — face interruptions or delays.
What’s included: The hub offers talking points, editable template letters to Congress and analysis of agency‑specific effects on county services.
Add your voice: Share how your county is being affected using NACo’s submission form to help inform advocacy with Congress and federal partners.
NACo has released the Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities' Economic Diversification Toolkit, a step-by-step guide to help counties prepare for and recover from economic shocks.
What’s inside: The toolkit outlines eight proven strategies for economic diversification and features real-world examples from coal-impacted counties participating in the initiative.
Broader applications: The guide supports all counties across the country to prepare for and recover from economic disruptions, such as industry downturn, supply chain disruption or natural disaster.
The latest edition of County News is out, with a special Hot Topic section on counties' search for ways to stimulate upward mobility.
The role of counties: The Hot Topic focus breaks down how county governments shape the growth of their economies through guidance, assistance and investment.
Listen: The County News Podcast also explores economic mobility at work. In addition to highlighting a program that is helping local farmers find new markets for their produce, the episode also discusses economic mobility resources available to county officials.
Other issue highlights: Explore more from the issue, including a feature on the impact of the data center boom on counties and a spooky look inside a state association's building horror film debut.
Counties are the victims of nearly 43% of all ransomware attacks against the U.S. government. NACo, in partnership with Proofpoint, is offering a free cybersecurity pilot to help counties identify vulnerabilities and defend against cyberattacks.
No-risk email security assessment: Identify weak points in your county’s email systems with a free diagnostic that shares actionable insights to close the gaps.
Expert guidance: Participants will receive customized recommendations from cybersecurity professionals to reduce risk and strengthen digital defenses.
Why it matters: Nearly 1 in 5 data breaches result from preventable security flaws. Don’t wait for a breach — protect your data now.
A new report from ClearGov provides data-backed insights into how nearly 200 local government finance leaders are approaching budgeting, reporting and planning in 2025.
Top trends and challenges: Learn what finance teams identify as their biggest hurdles and the success factors they value most.
Priority shifts: See where local government leaders are focusing for the year ahead, from digital tools to stakeholder engagement.
Benchmark your process: Use this report to evaluate your county’s planning framework against national peers.
