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
Marketing, Outreach, and Creative Funding for SNAP E&T
Last month the SNAP E&T Policy Academy held a webinar to look at marketing, outreach, and creative funding for SNAP E&T programs. (Download Slides) States and territories continue to prioritize ...
Building the Skills Infrastructure States Need
How NGA and AIR Are Advancing Skills-Based Practices in the Public Sector Across the country, governors and other state leaders are rethinking how they attract, hire, and retain talent. Since ...
Utilizing Existing Right-of-Way to Deploy Transmission and other Linear Infrastructure
On November 4, 2025, the National Governors Association (NGA) convened a roundtable to discuss key issues and solutions associated with utilizing transportation right-of-way (ROW) for energy transmission, fiberoptics, and other linear infrastructure projects. The convening was held in partnership with, and funded by, the U.S. Department of Energy’s ...
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
Allocating COVID-19 Vaccines in Initial Phases of Distribution: Federal Recommendations and Considerations for States
This memorandum summarizes federal recommendations regarding who should receive the initially limited vaccine first, how states are approaching allocation and ...
New Relief Coming from Washington – What Does This Mean for Transportation?
States are essential to moving critical infrastructure projects forward and will be key to building a sustainable economic recovery following ...
States’ Winter Holiday and Celebration Safety Guidance during COVID-19
This list outlines states’ health and safety guidance and considerations for winter holidays (e.g., Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, New Year’s) and ...
NGA Partner Resources – COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Communications Plans
Federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local governments and private partners are working collaboratively to ensure that vaccines are distributed in ...
State Initiatives for Small Business Recovery During the COVID-19 Pandemic Economic Crisis
This memo summarizes a variety of types of state small business initiatives launched or expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and ...
Governor Guidance on the Energy Sector During COVID-19 Response
This memo serves to provide guidance to governors on how they can best support and protect the energy industry during ...
Exploring the On-Demand Economy in Colorado
To address the lack of place-based context needed to understand what drivers underlie trends in nonemployer work, the Colorado Department ...
Supporting an Equitable Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines
This report looks at key themes, strategies, and challenges across State and Territorial COVID-19 vaccination plans. (View/Download) Executive Summary Ensuring ...
The Road Ahead: Planning for Electric Vehicles by Managing Grid Interactions
This paper includes recommendations to help Governors meet their EV goals and provides strategies that can improve the interplay between ...
Transportation Funding and Financing during COVID-19
This memo summarizes mechanisms states and territories use to fund and finance transportation systems, as well as recent Governor initiatives ...
Putting CARES Act Funds To Work: Getting Main Street Back on its Feet
“As the state has rolled out over $1 billion of the CARES Act monies to the individuals and businesses affected ...
Putting CARES Act Funds To Work: Prioritizing Testing and PPE to Protect Americans
Federal support is needed to ensure that states and territories have the necessary PPE and testing resources to protect our ...
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…