NGA Center for Best Practices
NGA Center for Best Practices teams develop innovative solutions to today’s most pressing public policy challenges. The NGA Center is the only research and development firm that directly serves the nation’s Governors.
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Highlighting America’s History & Strengthening Civic Engagement
The country’s First Spouses gathered in Colorado Springs during the 2025 NGA Summer Meeting to focus on ways Governors and First Spouses can highlight the history of the United States, ...
Permitting Progress
“Permitting reform is one of those issues where both Republicans and Democrats recognize the problem, we largely agree on solutions, and Congress gets close year after year to doing something ...
Unlocking Opportunities to Achieve the American Dream
At NGA’s Summer Meeting in Colorado Springs, new NGA Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced his 2025-2026 Chair’s Initiative, Reigniting the American Dream. The yearlong Reigniting the American Dream initiative ...
Reigniting the American Dream
Every American should have the opportunity to build a life of purpose, to strengthen their community, and to help shape a nation defined not only by prosperity, but by potential realized. Yet across our very diverse states, too many people have lost faith in this opportunity. They’ve faced too many obstacles, encountered too many closed doors, and given up the hope of a brighter future. We can do better.
Reigniting the American Dream is more than an initiative. It’s an invitation for every U.S. governor to take action.
Program Areas
Center for Best Practices Library
Highlighting America’s History & Strengthening Civic Engagement
The country’s First Spouses gathered in Colorado Springs during the 2025 NGA Summer Meeting to focus on ways Governors and ...
Permitting Progress
“Permitting reform is one of those issues where both Republicans and Democrats recognize the problem, we largely agree on solutions, ...
Unlocking Opportunities to Achieve the American Dream
At NGA’s Summer Meeting in Colorado Springs, new NGA Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced his 2025-2026 Chair’s Initiative, Reigniting ...
2025 Governors’ Legal Counsel Convening
The 2025 Governors’ Legal Counsel Convening was held on June 25-27 in Coronado, California. Hosted by the National Governors Association, ...
Healthy People and Healthy Economies
Governors are responsible for the well-being of residents in their states and territories, working daily on a host of issues ...
Let’s Get Ready to Implement a Roadmap for Governors
Each year, the Chair of the National Governors Association runs an initiative aimed at doing what Governors do best: improving ...
Council of Governors Holds 31st Plenary Meeting
The Council of Governors held its 31st Plenary Meeting July 24, 2025, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in conjunction with the ...
How to Build Sustainable Principal Pipelines
Dr. Ellen Goldring from Vanderbilt University joins NGA to talk about how states can support districts in building and sustaining ...
Strengthening State-Level Mental Health Policy During Uncertain Economic Times
Mental illness – which includes a wide range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior, such as anxiety disorders, ...
NGA Nuclear Dispatch: Advancing Nuclear Energy in Virginia and Tennessee
After a robust build out of nuclear capacity towards the end of the 20th century, the United States is currently ...
Let’s Get Ready! To Define Success
After a fireside chat on preparing students of all ages for workforce success, and a panel discussion featuring insights from ...
Governors’ Perspectives on Addressing Child Care Needs: Supply and Demand Trends to Watch
Opportunities abound for state-led solutions, and Governors continue to take up the mantle by continuing to prioritize increasing the availability ...
PAST NGA CHAIRS INITIATIVES
- 2024-2025
Gov. Jared Polis’s Initiative
Let’s Get Ready! - 2023-2024
Gov. Spencer Cox’s Initiative
Disagree Better - 2022-2023
Gov. Phil Murphy’s Initiative
Strengthening Youth Mental Health - View all…