
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

State Funding and Financing Strategies for Advancing Energy Projects
This policy brief highlights several state case studies of effective funding and financing mechanisms for energy projects, including the braiding of private, state, and federal funding or financing sources to ...

NGA Hosts Webinar with First Lady Jennie Gordon, Highlights Strategic Partnerships First Spouses Form to Advance Initiatives
On May 16, NGA’s Health Equity Learning Network held a webinar focused on ways states and territories can address food insecurity through nutrition programs. The webinar featured remarks from Wyoming ...

Budgets and Programs in Balance: Understanding the Fiscal Impact of Federal Policy Across State and Territory Systems
The NGA Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force, co-chaired by Hawai`i Governor Josh Green and Vermont Governor Phil Scott, held a briefing for Congressional staff on May 19, 2025 ...
Let’s Get Ready
All Americans should have access to education that prepares them for success in life. As the world changes and technology evolves, ensuring all students graduate with the skills and knowledge necessary for success is increasingly critical for our nation’s economic competitiveness.
As Governors, we lead states facing economic opportunities but also challenges, shortages in workforce, skills mismatch, and widening opportunity gaps that limit true economic mobility for Americans. We must take these indicators as a call to action.
Program Areas
Center for Best Practices Library

Enhancing Our Defense Communities—a Virtual Workshop Series, 2020
Reach and Engage our Defense Communities Our virtual series kicked-off in September with a workshop dedicated to highlighting federal and ...

Protests, Policing, and COVID-19
This memorandum provides strategies for Governors to reduce the risks of spreading COVID-19 during protests while protecting public safety. (View/Download) ...

Expanding Access To Non-Opioid Management Of Chronic Pain
This report synthesizes the existing evidence base for non-opioid therapies, examines Medicaid coverage policies, and identifies barriers and opportunities for ...

Understanding Quality: The Role of States in Supporting Quality Non-Degree Credentials
This issue brief provides guidance about how states can identify which credentials meet quality thresholds and are likely to empower ...

State Workforce Development System Partnership with Vocational Rehabilitation Services to Address the Needs of People with Disabilities Impacted by COVID-19
(View/Download) Summary This memo describes ways that state Vocational Rehabilitation services (VR) programs are collaborating with state workforce development agencies ...

2020 Governors Advisors Energy Policy Institute
The National Governors’ Association’s (NGA) Governors’ Advisors Energy Policy Institute brought together governors’ energy policy staff to share energy policy ...

State & Territory Policy Strategies Supporting Maternal & Child Health During COVID-19
Thirty-eight states and territories representing politically and geographically diverse jurisdictions completed this survey, giving a broad picture of how states ...

Prevention of Targeted Violence and Terrorism Against Public Health Personnel and Assets
(View/Download) Introduction The significant growing frustration and discontent with public health interventions and the pandemic response has contributed to ongoing ...

Opioid and COVID-19 Related Resources
(View/Download) Relevant information and guidance for communities confronting opioids in the age of COVID-19 The Intersection of Two Pandemics: Addiction ...

EPA PFAS Standard Setting Process
As communities across the nation discover PFAS in their drinking water, surface waters, groundwater and soils, states and the Environmental ...

Source Water Protection for Safe Drinking and Recreation: State Partnerships and Funding Opportunities with USDA
Communities in every state depend on clean water for drinking and for outdoor recreation but state and local budgets normally ...

Strategies to Address Social Isolation and Loneliness During COVID-19
As governors continue efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and reopen the economy, the psychological toll of the pandemic ...
PAST NGA CHAIRS INITIATIVES
- 2023-2024
Gov. Spencer Cox’s Initiative
Disagree Better - 2022-2023
Gov. Phil Murphy’s Initiative
Strengthening Youth Mental Health - 2021-2022
Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s Initiative
K-12 Computer Science Education - View all…