National Association of Counties
Encyclopedia
The National Association of Counties (NACo) is an organization that represents county
governments in the United States
.
The National Association of Counties is the only national organization that represents county governments
in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,068 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government
, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money.
NACo's membership totals more than 2,350 counties, representing more than 80 percent of the nation's population.
With its headquarters on Capitol Hill
, NACo is a full-service organization that provides an extensive line of services including legislative, research, technical and public affairs assistance, as well as enterprise services to its members. The association acts as a liaison with other levels of government, works to improve public understanding of counties, serves as a national advocate for counties and provides them with resources to help them find innovative methods to meet the challenges they face. NACo is involved in a number of special projects that deal with such issues as homeland security, drug abuse and broader access to health care.
NACo understands the importance of strong public-private partnership
s and is committed to assisting counties and businesses explore new, innovative ways of working together. Through the Enterprise Services Department, NACo offers county employees retirement, cooperative purchasing
, debt collection
, and county reinsurance
programs. In addition businesses can participate in the NACo Corporate, Premier and Sponsorship Programs.
County officials and their staffs also participate through NACo's 23 affiliates. These organizations are composed of officials who share similar responsibilities, interests or knowledge areas. To keep county officials informed, NACo publishes a biweekly newspaper, County News, with circulation of 29,000, that focuses on issues and actions in Washington, D.C.
and throughout the country.
NACo's committees, whose members include county officials from every region of the country, are charged on an annual basis with evaluating issues and policies. The policy development process leads to the publication of the American County Platform, which NACo uses as a guide to deliver county government's message to the Administration
, Congress
and the American public.
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
governments in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The National Association of Counties is the only national organization that represents county governments
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,068 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money.
NACo's membership totals more than 2,350 counties, representing more than 80 percent of the nation's population.
With its headquarters on Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
Capitol Hill, aside from being a metonym for the United States Congress, is the largest historic residential neighborhood in Washington D.C., stretching easterly in front of the United States Capitol along wide avenues...
, NACo is a full-service organization that provides an extensive line of services including legislative, research, technical and public affairs assistance, as well as enterprise services to its members. The association acts as a liaison with other levels of government, works to improve public understanding of counties, serves as a national advocate for counties and provides them with resources to help them find innovative methods to meet the challenges they face. NACo is involved in a number of special projects that deal with such issues as homeland security, drug abuse and broader access to health care.
NACo understands the importance of strong public-private partnership
Public-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
s and is committed to assisting counties and businesses explore new, innovative ways of working together. Through the Enterprise Services Department, NACo offers county employees retirement, cooperative purchasing
Purchasing cooperative
A purchasing cooperative is a type of cooperative arrangement, often among businesses, to agree to aggregate demand to get lower prices from selected suppliers. Retailers' cooperatives are a form of purchasing cooperative...
, debt collection
Collection agency
A collection agency is a business that pursues payments of debts owed by individuals or businesses. Most collection agencies operate as agents of creditors and collect debts for a fee or percentage of the total amount owed....
, and county reinsurance
Reinsurance
Reinsurance is insurance that is purchased by an insurance company from another insurance company as a means of risk management...
programs. In addition businesses can participate in the NACo Corporate, Premier and Sponsorship Programs.
County officials and their staffs also participate through NACo's 23 affiliates. These organizations are composed of officials who share similar responsibilities, interests or knowledge areas. To keep county officials informed, NACo publishes a biweekly newspaper, County News, with circulation of 29,000, that focuses on issues and actions in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and throughout the country.
NACo's committees, whose members include county officials from every region of the country, are charged on an annual basis with evaluating issues and policies. The policy development process leads to the publication of the American County Platform, which NACo uses as a guide to deliver county government's message to the Administration
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and the American public.