State Equitable Recovery Coalition

Taking advantage of shared expertise to help drive sustainable, equitable recovery and growth after the economic disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, while leveraging the opportunity to address issues related to workforce, education, public services, and racial and economic justice.

Since March of 2020, Governors have taken action to address once-in-a-lifetime economic circumstances by providing assistance to displaced small businesses and workers, while putting in place longer-term supports to help Americans succeed in a changing world of work. The State Equitable Recovery Coalition, in partnership with Education Strategy Group and supported by the Siemens Foundation, will build on these initiatives and others to connect strategically to maximize networks, expertise and resources on behalf of the Governors of states and territories and the workers they represent.

The coalition will complement existing networks that NGA and other organizations are working with to take advantage of shared expertise to help drive sustainable, equitable recovery and growth after the economic disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, while leveraging the opportunity to address issues related to workforce, education, public services, and racial and economic justice. The coalition will provide technical support to help advance Governors’ community and economic recovery goals over a period of a year.

“Now more than ever, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to support states building an inclusive and resilient recovery for America’s working families, and that’s the goal of the State Equitable Recovery Coalition. Governors continue to be at the forefront of that work. We are proud to support NGA and the coalition to advance this work and our mutual commitment to economic, social and racial justice for all in the United States.”

David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation

Action Labs

The NGA Center for Best Practices is hosting a series of action labs for Governors’ staff and state teams that focus on intersectional issues with the common goal of increasing economic opportunity for students and workers with low income.

Action Labs:


For more information about the State Equitable Recovery Coalition please contact Amanda Winters at AWinters@NGA.ORG.

Recent Resources and Events from Members

  • Institute for Women’s Policy Research’s Student Parent Success Initiative has published their newest report, Re-Engaging Student Parents to Achieve Attainment and Equity Goals: A Case for Investment in More Accessible Postsecondary Pathways. The report concludes with tailored recommendations for building a more supportive, inclusive postsecondary system that creates accessible opportunities for parents, especially single parents and Black, Indigenous, and Latinx parents, to earn postsecondary credentials.
  • COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education is an open-access journal focused on innovative ideas and practitioner experience that supports the field of adult education. The most recent edition focused on immigrant integration and racial equity. Click here for more details.
  • This brief from Credential Engine explores how full, open, and transparent access to information about credentials and their value can be a crucial element of how states can work to dismantle systems that have created the inequities we see today.


NGA Economic and Workforce Development Resources

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 people navigate education and work—supercharging competency-based education, skills-based hiring, and ...
State and Local Leaders Urge Congress to Extend TANF Program

State and Local Leaders Urge Congress to Extend TANF Program

The Honorable Ron Wyden ChairmanSenate Committee on Finance 2221 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Jason SmithChairmanHouse Committee on Ways and Means 1011 Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, ...
Governors Urge Congress to pass appropriations for fiscal year 2024

Governors Urge Congress to pass appropriations for fiscal year 2024

WASHINGTON – Today, National Governors Association Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Vice Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis released the following statement strongly urging Congress to swiftly pass appropriations for ...
State Workforce Leaders Explore Opportunities for Strategic Leadership at NGA Summer Workforce Symposium in Fargo

State Workforce Leaders Explore Opportunities for Strategic Leadership at NGA Summer Workforce Symposium in Fargo

Last month, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) convened two affiliate networks for its biannual Workforce Symposium in Fargo, North Dakota– the National Association of State ...
NGA Center Launches Policy Academy to Advance Youth Apprenticeship

NGA Center Launches Policy Academy to Advance Youth Apprenticeship

In partnership with New America, the NGA Center will deliver technical assistance to the six states that were competitively selected to participate in the Policy Academy as they develop and ...
Learning and Employment Records – States And The Infrastructure Of Opportunity

Learning and Employment Records – States And The Infrastructure Of Opportunity

Governors and other state leaders are concerned about the current labor shortage, occurring during a time when many skilled workers are underemployed or even unemployed. Skills-based approaches to hiring and ...
Strategies to Address Engineering Workforce Challenges

Strategies to Address Engineering Workforce Challenges

Public and private sector practitioners highlight best practices to meet generational infrastructure moment. (Download) Passage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in late 2021 was a ...
Regional Workshops Explore Healthcare Workforce Solutions

Regional Workshops Explore Healthcare Workforce Solutions

During the past three months, NGA's Healthcare Delivery and Postsecondary Education teams convened teams from 20 states and territories in a series of regional workshops as part of the Next ...
NGA Holds Summer Workforce Symposium in Fargo

NGA Holds Summer Workforce Symposium in Fargo

With Governors focused on aligning workforce and economic development activities across their states, NGA’s Summer Workforce Symposium brought together state leaders, including North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, to focus on ...