NGA Center for Best Practices

The NGA Center for Best Practices teams and divisions develop innovative solutions to today’s most pressing public policy challenges. The center is the only research and development firm that directly serves the nation’s Governors.

Latest

Workforce Development in 2024 State of the State Addresses

Workforce Development in 2024 State of the State Addresses

Effective workforce development policy and programs are crucial for economic growth and healthy communities, especially during a tight labor market. As a result of the current economic and workforce climate, ...
Disagree Better – Architects, Not Arsonists

Disagree Better – Architects, Not Arsonists

Politicians work on policies that have real world impacts on the people they serve, and thus, political coverage tends to lead to serious people talking in serious voices. This is ...
Membership Monthly – March 2024

Membership Monthly – March 2024

Updates from the NGA Membership Team for March 2024. For more about the programs below and a list of upcoming events please email us at: membership@nga.org. GOVERNORS PICTURED ABOVE: New ...
New State Models Emerging for Fostering Entrepreneurship

New State Models Emerging for Fostering Entrepreneurship

The NGA Center for Best Practices is presenting the webinar, New State Models Emerging for Fostering Entrepreneurship, on Tuesday, March 26, 2:30-3:30pm ET. In 2023, Nevada made history by becoming ...

Disagree Better

Americans need to disagree better. And by that we don’t mean that we need to be nicer to each other, although that’s helpful. We need to learn to disagree in a way that allows us to find solutions and solve problems instead of endlessly bickering.

The “exhausted majority” of Americans want this, and the science is clear about interventions that reduce polarization. As doers and builders, Governors are in a unique position to model what healthy conflict looks like.

Governor Spencer Cox’s Disagree Better NGA Chair’s initiative looks at the problems of polarization, elevates the solutions that groups around the country are already implementing, and features Governors showing what disagreeing better looks like. Through public debates, service projects, public service announcements and a variety of other tactics, Americans will see a more positive and optimistic way of working through our problems.

Program Areas


Center for Best Practices Library

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in State Government

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in State Government

On September 6, 2023, the NGA Center for Best Practices hosted a virtual event, “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence in State ...
Disability Employment Awareness Month 2023

Disability Employment Awareness Month 2023

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which this year celebrates 50 years of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. There ...
Opioid Litigation Settlement Funds Summit

Opioid Litigation Settlement Funds Summit

The Opioid Litigation Settlement Funds Summit highlighted the essential role Governors play in ensuring that opioid settlement funds are used ...
2023 Cybersecurity Policy Advisors Network In-Person Convening

2023 Cybersecurity Policy Advisors Network In-Person Convening

The 2023 Cybersecurity Policy Advisors Network In-Person Convening was held on September 27-28th in Washington, DC. Hosted by the National ...
Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023

Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023

In today's digital world, cybersecurity is more important than ever. As our society relies increasingly on technology, we become more ...
September Quarterly Infrastructure Coordinator Workshop

September Quarterly Infrastructure Coordinator Workshop

On September 12 to 14, 2023, National Governors Association hosted its fifth Quarterly Infrastructure Coordinator Workshop in Washington, D.C. This ...
Organizational Opportunities for Strengthening the Human Services Workforce

Organizational Opportunities for Strengthening the Human Services Workforce

Background State human services agencies are charged with managing complex programs and designing innovative solutions to complicated social concerns. However, ...
Advancing Equity in the Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Sectors

Advancing Equity in the Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Sectors

On Wednesday, September 27th NGA hosted its third webinar in a four-part series highlighting innovative and replicable projects that are ...
2023 Energy Cybersecurity Resources For Governors’ Advisors

2023 Energy Cybersecurity Resources For Governors’ Advisors

This resource guide provides an overview of federal and state cybersecurity standards for the energy sector as well as a ...
How Healthy Conflict Can Strengthen Nation

How Healthy Conflict Can Strengthen Nation

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, a Democrat, recently joined former Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, to participate in a ...
Early Wins: A Tailored Tool For A Big Problem

Early Wins: A Tailored Tool For A Big Problem

Policymakers and technologists who are working to build learning and employment records talk about the ways they could transform how ...
At Disagree Better Event, National Security Experts Warn of the Dangers of Toxic Polarization

At Disagree Better Event, National Security Experts Warn of the Dangers of Toxic Polarization

Americans are all too familiar with the impact of toxic polarization in settings from home to work to Congress. Whether ...

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