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
Governors Prioritize & Recognize America’s Veterans
As the country celebrates Veterans Day, the nation’s Governors mark the occasion by issuing proclamations and holding ceremonies to recognize the military service of America’s veterans. Throughout 2025, Governors have ...
NGA HHS Institute 2025: Making Innovative Tech Work for Health & Human Services
Governors are looking to drive cost- and time-efficient solutions that mitigate workforce strain and improve seamless service delivery but navigating the universe of available products while balancing procurement requirements with ...
NGA HHS Institute 2025: Navigating SNAP Implementation Post-Reconciliation
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed H.R. 1, which contained several programmatic changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including the introduction of a new benefit cost-share penalty, ...
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
NGA/U.S. DOT Webinar on the Build America Bureau’s New Rural Projects Initiative
The webinar, hosted in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), introduced the U.S. DOT’s Build America Bureau and ...
Prenatal to Age Three Policies
The National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices Education, Health, and Homeland Security & Public Safety divisions held a ...
Midterm Elections: Governors Represent the Best of Bipartisan Progress Across America
NGA executive director and CEO Scott Pattison on the 2018 midterm elections, governors and bipartisanship ...
State Level Policies to Promote Water Utility Consolidation
Gubernatorial leadership in Kentucky helped reduce the number of water utilities in the state from 2,178 in 1974 to 398 ...
NGA releases Expert Roundtable Report on Integrating and Advancing Prenatal to Age 3 Policies
The National Governors Association (NGA) released a report from the June 5, 2018 expert roundtable in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The roundtable ...
School Leadership Under ESSA: State Highlights
Hosted by the National Governors Association (NGA) and Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), this webinar highlighted how governors ...
Emerging Contaminants: Prevention, Treatment and Messaging
October 27, 2017 Join NGA's Water Policy Learning Network to hear from expert practitioners about state policies and programs aimed ...
Water Infrastructure Law A Victory for Governors
The National Governors Association statement applauding the signing of S. 3021, America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 ...
Early Care and Education Workforce 2.0 Cross-State Convening
The National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices, in partnership with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), ...
Smarter States, Smarter Communities Learning Lab
The National Governors Association convened representatives from five states to participate in the Smarter States, Smarter Communities Learning Lab to ...
Policy Academy on Scaling Work-Based Learning: Second Cross-State Meeting
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted the second policy academy cross-state meeting focused on assisting ...
What States Should Know: Practical Applications of Blockchain in Energy
A conversation with David Livingston, Deputy Director at the Atlantic Council and lead author of the report: Applying Blockchain Technology ...
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…