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
Strengthening the Mental Health Continuum for High-Acuity Youth
On August 28th, NGA hosted the monthly meeting of the Human Services Advisors Institute, which featured presentations on supporting youth with high acuity needs. The discussion focused on how Governors ...
Rural Health: A Strategic Opportunity for Governors
Rural communities are foundational to the nation’s health and economy. With nearly 60 million people living in rural America, these communities help sustain America’s food systems, safeguard energy grids and ...
NGA Convenes State Workforce Leaders in Montana to Advance Pathways to Work, Unlock Economic Opportunity, and Harness the Power of AI
The NGA Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted its Biannual Workforce Development Policy Institute in Billings, Montana from August 13th - 15th. The Institute convened Governor’s workforce development policy ...
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
Rural Health: A Strategic Opportunity for Governors
Rural communities are foundational to the nation’s health and economy. With nearly 60 million people living in rural America, these ...
NGA Convenes State Workforce Leaders in Montana to Advance Pathways to Work, Unlock Economic Opportunity, and Harness the Power of AI
The NGA Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted its Biannual Workforce Development Policy Institute in Billings, Montana from August ...
Governors Leading on Job Creation and Skills Development
Governors want everyone in their states to have a shot at living their own American Dream. That means not only ...
Highlighting America’s History & Strengthening Civic Engagement
The country’s First Spouses gathered in Colorado Springs during the 2025 NGA Summer Meeting to focus on ways Governors and ...
Permitting Progress
“Permitting reform is one of those issues where both Republicans and Democrats recognize the problem, we largely agree on solutions, ...
Bipartisanship Is Alive, and We Governors Are Proving It
At a time when many Americans feel disillusioned by national politics, we offer this reminder: Governors still lead. Governors still ...
Unlocking Opportunities to Achieve the American Dream
At NGA’s Summer Meeting in Colorado Springs, new NGA Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced his 2025-2026 Chair’s Initiative, Reigniting ...
2025 Governors’ Legal Counsel Convening
The 2025 Governors’ Legal Counsel Convening was held on June 25-27 in Coronado, California. Hosted by the National Governors Association, ...
Healthy People and Healthy Economies
Governors are responsible for the well-being of residents in their states and territories, working daily on a host of issues ...
Let’s Get Ready to Implement a Roadmap for Governors
Each year, the Chair of the National Governors Association runs an initiative aimed at doing what Governors do best: improving ...
Council of Governors Holds 31st Plenary Meeting
The Council of Governors held its 31st Plenary Meeting July 24, 2025, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in conjunction with the ...
How to Build Sustainable Principal Pipelines
Dr. Ellen Goldring from Vanderbilt University joins NGA to talk about how states can support districts in building and sustaining ...
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…