NGA CENTER FOR BEST PRACTICES
The NGA Center for Best Practices teams and divisions develop innovative solutions to today’s most pressing public policy challenges. The center is the only research and development firm that directly serves the nation’s governors.
RURAL PROSPERITY THROUGH THE ARTS & CREATIVE SECTOR
AN ACTION GUIDE offers research insights and lessons learned from states that are harnessing the power of the arts to drive rural prosperity. Produced by the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices, the guide offers creative policy solutions that draw on home-grown arts and cultural assets to address the urgent problems facing rural America.
While there are many inspiring success stories to celebrate in rural areas, some regions also are contending with stark economic challenges, outmigration, education gaps and infrastructure needs. By leveraging the creative industries, states can deploy proven strategies that help all rural communities to thrive. This action guide is part of a collaborative project between NGA, the National Endowment for the Arts and National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.
Economic Opportunity Division
The Economic Opportunity Division provides information, research, policy analysis, technical assistance and resource development for governors and their staff across a range of policy issues. The division covers economic development and innovation; workforce development focused on industry-based strategies; pathways to employment and populations with special needs; and human services for children, youth, low-income families and people with disabilities.
Education Division
The Education Division provides information, research, policy analysis, technical assistance and resource development for governors and their staff in the areas of early childhood, K-12 and postsecondary education. The division focuses on helping governors develop effective policy and support its implementation in the areas of: early education, readiness and quality; the Common Core State Standards, Science Technology Engineering and Math and related assessments; teacher and leader effectiveness; competency-based learning; charter schools; data and accountability; and postsecondary (higher education and workforce training) access, success, productivity, accountability, and affordability. The division also works on policy issues related to bridging the system divides among the early childhood, K-12, postsecondary and workforce systems.
Energy, Infrastructure & Environment Division
The NGA Center for Best Practices Energy, Infrastructure & Environment (EIE) provides information, research, policy analysis, technical assistance and resource development for governors and their staff in the areas of energy, environment and infrastructure including transportation, water and broadband. The division focuses on several issues, including: developing a modern, efficient, reliable and resilient electricity grid; exploring state transportation solutions involving new technologies such as autonomous vehicles, drones, ride-hailing and electrification; managing the use of water resources including addressing the water-energy nexus; exploring innovative financing mechanisms for energy and infrastructure and supporting smarter state solutions involving connected technologies.
Health Division
The Health Division provides information, research, policy analysis, technical assistance and resource development for governors and their staff across a range of policy issues. The health division covers issues in the areas of health care service delivery and reform, including payment reform, health workforce planning, quality improvement, and public health and behavioral health integration within the medical delivery system. Other focus areas include Medicaid cost containment, state employee and retiree health benefits, maternal and child health, prescription drug abuse prevention and health insurance exchange planning.
Homeland Security & Public Safety Division
The Homeland Security & Public Safety Division provides information, research, policy analysis, technical assistance and resource development for governors and their staff about emerging policy trends across a range of homeland security and public safety issues. Current issues include cybersecurity, prescription drug abuse, public safety broadband, sentencing and corrections reform, homeland security grant reform, justice information-sharing, and public health preparedness.