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.
Latest
2026 Governors’ Education Policy Advisors Institute
The National Governors Association convened its annual Governors' Education Policy Advisors Institute (GEPA) in New Orleans from May 27-29, 2026, bringing together 34 leaders from 21 states and territories. Over ...
NGA’s Spring 2026 Infrastructure Coordinator Workshop
A Focus on What Comes Next for States and Territories After the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act On May 19-20, the National Governors Association (NGA) hosted its 11th Infrastructure Coordinator ...
Building a Skills-First Future: NGA Skills in the States Convening
From May 19-21, 2026, the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices convened the Skills in the States Annual Convening at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. Governors' workforce ...
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
Small Business and Cybersecurity
Virtually any small business relies on technology and an Internet connection to thrive in today’s hyper-competitive, digital economy. Consequently, small ...
A Compact to Improve State Cybersecurity
The foremost duty of every governor is to safeguard the public safety and welfare of its residents; that includes protecting ...
Cybercrime: What Can A Governor Do?
The state and local officials that comprise the homeland security and public safety community must confront all hazards to the ...
Building a Cybersecurity Workforce Pipeline
States confront four interrelated challenges to building, recruiting, and retaining a cybersecurity workforce. First, many companies are unable to find ...
Cybersecurity in the Education Sector
Although frequently omitted from conversations about cybersecurity, K-12 schools and institutions of higher education are under assault from so-called hacktivists, ...
Securing Election Infrastructure
The people of the United States are committed to free and fair elections. With the 2016 elections fast approaching, state ...
Cybersecurity in the Health Care Sector
The health care industry faces two major cybersecurity threats. First, the transition from paper record-keeping to electronic health records has ...
Memo on State Cybersecurity Centers
Since 2015, seven states have publicly established or announced the creation of a state “cybersecurity center,” tasked with implementing key ...
Memo on State Cybersecurity Strategies
This memo provides an overview of state cybersecurity strategies, as well as information technology and homeland security strategies with cybersecurity ...
Memo on State Cybersecurity Governance Bodies
This memo identifies commonalities and differences among the 22 states that established governance bodies tasked with identifying the cyber threats ...
Memo on State Cybersecurity Strategies
This memo provides an overview of state cybersecurity strategies, as well as information technology and homeland security strategies with cybersecurity ...
Revisiting Top Trends in State Economic Development
Since the 2013 publication of Top Trends in State Economic Development, governors’ key advisors have continued to explore and implement ...
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…