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
Civility, Federalism, and the Future of American Politics
In a week that could easily have been defined by division, the penultimate session of the 2026 NGA Winter Meeting offered something increasingly rare in American public life: two politicians, ...
Policy Brief: Outdoor Recreation and Public Health
States are increasingly exploring the intersection of health policy and outdoor recreation to better understand how these policy areas could be leveraged for the positive benefit of their constituents. While ...
The Power of Service: Governors Lead Efforts to Support Military Families and to Promote Volunteer Service Opportunities
In a segment titled “The Power of Service,” NGA Vice Chair Maryland Governor Wes Moore led a panel discussion to explore how Americans can heal division by serving in our ...
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
The Navigator – North Carolina’s Online Work-Based Learning Platform
The NGA Center for Best Practices, with support from the Siemens Foundation, is working with states through the Policy Academy ...
Countering Mis- and Disinformation Amid COVID-19
(View/Download) Mis- and disinformation campaigns exploit the emotional nature of major events and societal issues and seek to influence public ...
COVID-19 Testing in Long-Term Care Facilities
(View/Download) Introduction Many states are prioritizing and, in some cases, requiring COVID-19 testing of all residents and staff at long-term ...
Reimagining Workforce Policy in the Age of Disruption
(View/Download) Preface When Future Workforce Now: Reimagining Workforce Policy in the Age of Disruption launched in 2018, emerging technologies were ...
State Strategies to Support Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services through the COVID-19 Pandemic
(View/Download) New Challenges Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many governors were looking for ways to strengthen substance use disorder (SUD) ...
Short-Time Compensation Programs as a COVID-19 Response and Recovery Strategy
(View/Download) Introduction This memo provides governors and state officials with an overview of the Short-Time Compensation (STC) program and opportunities ...
Reducing the Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 Among Communities of Color
(View/Download) Introduction COVID-19 has imposed a disproportionate burden of illness and death on communities of color, including Black, Latino/a and ...
Financing For The Future: Leveraging Private Sector Investments
Videos from the virtual NGA's Chair Initiative Infrastructure Summit, "Financing America's Infrastructure Future." Featuring discussions with Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, ...
Key Steps and Considerations for Building a COVID-19 Contact Tracing Workforce
(View/Download) Executive Summary As outlined in our Roadmap to Recovery, as states gradually reopen economic and social activities, they must ...
State Strategies to Transition Dislocated and Incumbent Workers into High-Demand Industries
(View/Download) Background While disruptions caused by COVID-19 have led to unprecedented increases in unemployment, some industries are now experiencing regional ...
Building an Adult-Friendly Postsecondary Policy Framework
During the webinar, state leaders from the Parents and Children Thriving Together: Two-Generation State Policy Network (PACTT Network) shared how ...
Child Care Reopening and Recovery
(View/Download) Introduction As states and governors continue working to flatten the curve, plans have been developed and finalized in many ...
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…