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
Local, State Coalition Presses Congress for Urgent SNAP Fix
Officials on the frontlines of SNAP benefits administration across the nation are warning Congress about a little-known legislative provision with a huge impact on state budgets – an impact supercharged ...
State Leadership: Governors Work to Sustain Food Assistance
Governors and their teams stepped up to provide crucial support and safeguard the well-being of their communities during the 43 days of the 2025 federal shutdown. The shutdown demonstrated Governors’ ...
Policy Academy to Improve Crime Clearance Rates
When crimes are solved and cases are closed, communities experience greater confidence in their justice systems, victims receive closure and potential offenders face meaningful deterrence. For Governors, clearance rates offer ...
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
Policy Academy to Advance Youth Apprenticeship
As a national partner in the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA), the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices ...
The Role of States in Shaping a Future-Ready EV Workforce
States remain on the front lines of developing the skilled workforce needed to support the electric vehicle (EV) sector’s continued ...
Governors Leading Economic Development
Governors are their states’ chief economic ambassadors, touting the unique advantages their states offer to businesses, and advocating a host ...
2025 Energy Resilience Roundtable for U.S. Territories, Alaska & Hawai‘i
Energy is an essential resource for everyday life, economic growth, and security, a fact that is never as apparent as ...
Maternal Mental Health Week 2025
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is an opportunity to recognize and discuss mental health conditions that can arise during and ...
Congressional Briefing on Governors Reshaping Workforce Development
Last week, NGA and the Harvard Project on Workforce hosted a virtual congressional briefing to present results from the recently released report, Governors Reshaping ...
Empowerment Through Adult Literacy: Policy Pathways for Governors
Adult literacy programs and partnerships provide foundational skills that lead to increased employment opportunities, improved physical and mental health outcomes, ...
Of the Youth, For the Youth, By the Youth: A Governor’s Guide for Incorporating Youth Voice into Policymaking
As states and territories across the country work to address the challenges that many youth face related to their mental ...
2025 GHSAC Winter Meting
The Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council (GHSAC) met April 15-17, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The GHSAC regularly brings together Governors’ ...
Let’s Get Ready to Improve the Value of Education
How can we reshape the education system to promote economic mobility? How should we assess the value of a diploma? ...
Policy Academy to Strengthen SNAP Employment & Training Delivery
In 2024 the NGA Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), in partnership with Third Sector Capital Partners (Third Sector), launched ...
Governors’ Infrastructure Coordinators Convene for Ninth Workshop
The National Governors Association’s Infrastructure Coordinator Network comprises Governor-appointed Infrastructure Coordinators and Advisors from states and territories across the country ...
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…