Upcoming Events

NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties

Last year's Inside Washington series is now NACo Policy Insider, a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties, as well as deeper dives into specific policy areas, equipping county leaders with insights, context, and strategies to engage effectively on key issues from transportation and infrastructure, to public lands, to disasters, to health and human services, and more. 

For more information, visit the series page.

Strategies for Sustainable Retiree Health Benefits

Thursday, August 13, 2026 | 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. ET

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has fundamentally reshaped the Medicare landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for employers, public sector organizations, and pension funds that sponsor retiree health benefits. While retirees are benefiting from lower prescription drug costs and capped out-of-pocket spending, plan sponsors are now facing significantly higher financial exposure — especially within Medicare Part D.

This webinar will explore how the post-IRA environment is changing Group Medicare economics and what plan sponsors can do to protect both retiree outcomes and long-term fiscal sustainability. Attendees will gain insight into emerging cost pressures, including rising healthcare utilization, increased catastrophic drug liability, and evolving CMS reimbursement dynamics.

Participants will also learn actionable strategies to help manage costs without compromising retiree care, including:

Ready for November: Make Every Week Count

Tuesday, August 18, 2026 |  3:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Want to make the most of the weeks leading up to the midterm elections and wondering what additional steps could strengthen your county's readiness?Whether you're refining existing plans or identifying where to focus next, this webinar will help you prioritize practical, high-impact actions you can take before November.

Join the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) for a conversation perfect for county IT professionals, emergency managers, and election administrators. You'll hear from election security experts who will share practical approaches to scenario planning, cross-functional coordination, and operational preparedness that can be implemented in the months and weeks leading up to Election Day.

The session will focus on what counties can realistically accomplish with the time, staff, and infrastructure you already have while highlighting additional tools, perspectives, and publicly-available resources from trusted partners. You'll leave with actionable next steps to strengthen your county's election security and readiness before November 3rd. 

Tech Xchange Q3 Focus Group: Workforce Challenges

Wednesday, August 19, 2026 |  2:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Are Counties Solving Workforce Challenges—or Just Stretching the Staff They Have?

Counties continue to face persistent workforce challenges, including recruitment, retention, and evolving skill needs. While many jurisdictions have adopted new tools and approaches to address gaps, questions remain about whether these efforts are creating long-term capacity or simply extending existing staff.
 
This focus group will explore how counties are adapting their workforce strategies, leveraging technology to support operations, and identifying sustainable approaches to meeting service demands in a constrained labor environment.

Doing More With Less: How Counties Can Successfully Address Behavioral Health Crisis Response Needs

Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. ET

Increased workforce strain and rising complex care needs test county health departments’ ability to deliver high-quality care. Join John Eller, Regional Director of Health Management Associates and Kevin Denmark, Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health at Bamboo Health, for a practical discussion on strategies county health departments can use to maximize resources and improve care outcomes.

This webinar, in partnership with the National Association of Counties, will explore:

• How automated real-time data and crisis management response tools help county health leaders improve care outcomes, workforce satisfaction and the bottom line
• Key considerations for supporting high-need, complex populations, such as justice-involved individuals, Medicaid recipients and rural residents with limited access
• Why the crisis care continuum is a critical area of focus for improving clinical and financial outcomes

Funding Your Future: Mapping County Technology to Grant Opportunities

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 |  2:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Ready to turn your communications modernization plans into funded reality? This webinar provides a practical roadmap for aligning technology initiatives with available grant funding in justice reform, rural health, mental health, and public safety.

We will share firsthand experience navigating the funding landscape and successfully securing support for technology investments, and break down specific funding sources and demonstrates how to position Zoom solutions within grant applications.

Data Center Series: Understanding Electricity Trends

Friday, August 28, 2026 | 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Building on the first webinar in NACo's Fall Data Center Series, this session uses that foundation in data center development and economic considerations to examine how data centers and other factors are reshaping electricity costs nationwide.

Participants will start with an overview of NACo's new resources on what shapes electricity bills, including cost components and pressures over time, then hear a panel discussion on how utility type and market structure determine how costs from new large electricity loads get allocated. The session wraps up with a discussion on how county officials can engage in these conversations locally and at the state regulatory level.

NACo Public Health Leadership Academy Application Information Session

Monday, August 31, 2026 | 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. ET

The National Association of Counties (NACo), in partnership with the de Beaumont Foundation, is launching a second Public Health Leadership Academy (PHLA) cohort to strengthen county leadership in advancing public health. This webinar will review the key information applicants should know to apply to the PHLA and provide an opportunity for applicants to ask questions. 

To view more details about the Academy and review the application, visit NACo’s Public Health Leadership Initiative webpage. 

From Data to Decisions: Using AI to Improve Digital Government Services

Tuesday, September 8, 2026 |  2:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Government agencies have more data than ever before, but turning that information into clear priorities and measurable outcomes remains a challenge. Disconnected systems, competing demands, and limited resources can make it difficult to know how to improve resident experiences.

Join Granicus for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of measuring and improving digital experiences and engagement, along with a look at how agencies can use AI-powered insights to make smarter decisions for their community.
 

Data Center Series: Water Use and Cooling

Friday, September 11, 2026 | 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. ET

As the third session in NACo's Fall Data Center Series, this call will focus on understanding water use and cooling of data centers.

Subject matter experts and local leaders will break down the fundamentals of data center water use by explaining common cooling technologies, the sourcing of water and approaches that counties can use to inform local decision-making. The session will pair expert presentations with facilitated Q&A while setting aside time for counties to connect and share experiences.
 

Tech Xchange Q4 Focus Group: Cyber Risk

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 |  2:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Are Counties Keeping Up with Cyber Risk—or Falling Further Behind?

Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, placing increasing pressure on counties to protect critical systems and sensitive data. While awareness and investment have grown, many counties face ongoing challenges related to funding, staffing, and rapidly changing risks.
 
This focus group will explore how counties are approaching cybersecurity, prioritizing investments, and strengthening resilience in an increasingly complex threat environment.