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.

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Ensuring Clarity and Transparency in Radioactive Waste Definitions

Ensuring Clarity and Transparency in Radioactive Waste Definitions

The purpose of this document is to help states impacted by cleanup at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear weapons cleanup sites clarify the radioactive waste classifications that underpin cleanup ...
Nation’s Governors Implement Policies to Support Veterans

Nation’s Governors Implement Policies to Support Veterans

As the country celebrates Veterans Day, the nation’s Governors will mark the occasion by issuing proclamations and holding ceremonies to recognize the military service of America’s veterans. During 2024, Governors ...
Colorado – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

Colorado – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

The below case study was developed through a NGA partnership with Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy to research and assess the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ...

Let’s Get Ready

All Americans should have access to education that prepares them for success in life. As the world changes and technology evolves, ensuring all students graduate with the skills and knowledge necessary for success is increasingly critical for our nation’s economic competitiveness.

As Governors, we lead states facing economic opportunities but also challenges, shortages in workforce, skills mismatch, and widening opportunity gaps that limit true economic mobility for Americans. We must take these indicators as a call to action.

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Center for Best Practices Library

Health Investments That Pay Off: A Comprehensive Approach to Tobacco Control

Tobacco use is the leading cause of premature disease and death in the United States, costing more than $170 billion ...

The Future of Medicaid Transformation: A Practical Guide for States

The National Governors Association (NGA) supports governors and the crucial role they play in state Medicaid transformation. States seeking approval ...

Aligning Energy Efficiency and Demand Response to Lower Peak Electricity Demand, Reduce Costs and Address Reliability Concerns

States across the country are confronting a shift to a “peakier” pattern in the use of electricity—meaning the highest levels ...

Finding Solutions to the Prescription Opioid and Heroin Crisis: A Road Map for States

Inappropriate opioid prescribing is fueling one of the deadliest drug epidemics in United States history. Every day in the U.S., ...

Starting a C-PACE Program: What You Need to Know

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted the first in a series of three webinars designed ...

The Role of Geographic Information Systems in State Energy Assurance Planning and Response

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted a webcast on geographic information systems (GIS) tools and ...

Cleaning Up America’s Nuclear Weapons Complex: 2015 Update for Governors

Governors play an important role in the nuclear cleanup effort by ensuring that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), their ...

Small Business and Cybersecurity

Virtually any small business relies on technology and an Internet connection to thrive in today’s hyper-competitive, digital economy. Consequently, small ...

A Compact to Improve State Cybersecurity

The foremost duty of every governor is to safeguard the public safety and welfare of its residents; that includes protecting ...

Cybercrime: What Can A Governor Do?

The state and local officials that comprise the homeland security and public safety community must confront all hazards to the ...

Building a Cybersecurity Workforce Pipeline

States confront four interrelated challenges to building, recruiting, and retaining a cybersecurity workforce. First, many companies are unable to find ...

Cybersecurity in the Education Sector

Although frequently omitted from conversations about cybersecurity, K-12 schools and institutions of higher education are under assault from so-called hacktivists, ...

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