In June, the National League of Cities celebrated Small Cities Month. About 40 percent of the national population lives in cities with 50,000 residents or fewer — accounting for three-quarters of all municipal governments in the United States — and yet these are often the communities facing the biggest challenges when tapping into national resources, advocacy and professional development.
Wyoming is one example of what’s possible when small cities are brought fully into the fold.
Recently, the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM) joined NLC’s Affiliate Member Program.
This arrangement allows municipal leagues to pay a significantly reduced rate for their small cities to join NLC, greatly expanding statewide access to NLC’s resources, advocacy and networking opportunities. Thanks to this partnership, 94 of Wyoming’s 99 municipalities are now part of NLC, all of which are small cities and towns with under 20,000 residents. It’s one of the clearest demonstrations of how the Affiliate Member Program can transform the opportunities small cities have to engage with NLC as affiliate member cities.
On the Ground at the WAM Annual Conference
In early June, NLC staff and President Kevin Kramer, Councilmember of Louisville, Ky., traveled to Laramie, Wy., to attend the Wyoming Association of Municipalities Annual Summer Convention.
At the conference, NLC staff provided one-on-one support to municipal leaders, connecting them with resources such as GrantFinder by Lexipol. This tool offers NLC members access to a searchable database of over 16,000 federal, state, corporate and foundation grants. For communities with limited staff and no dedicated grants team, GrantFinder can significantly improve access to funding opportunities.
NLC President Kevin Kramer and staff met with local elected officials from across the state at an NLC Ice Cream Social for affiliate cities and towns, gaining firsthand insight into the diverse experiences of Wyoming’s communities. NLC staff also hosted on-site Membership Office Hours, providing one-on-one guidance to officials as they navigated their new affiliate benefits.
The range in city sizes stood out as a theme on its own throughout the conference. Mayor Missy White of Lander, Wy. (pop. 7,546) shared how broad the term “small city” really stretches. For example, a town of 50,000 faces a different set of challenges than Lander, and those are different, again, from towns with fewer than 2,000 people. Each small city faces its own staffing realities, budget constraints and capacity challenges. Mayor White emphasized that “small cities” do not fit into one category with the same needs. Instead, they exist along a spectrum.
What Affiliate Membership Unlocked for Wyoming
“[Wyoming] is one small town with a very long main street.”
— Ashley Harpstreith, Executive Director, Wyoming Association of Municipalities
For Wyoming’s small cities, that meant immediate access to:
- Advocacy & Representation: A voice that helps influence federal legislation and opens doors to grant opportunities for even the smallest towns;
- Savings & Solutions: Exclusive programs, tools and services designed to turn local priorities into action that deliver results for residents;
- Education & Training: Discounted entry to NLC events and access to exclusive content, webinars and trainings.
- Leadership & Networking Opportunities: A seat at the table for elected officials to serve on NLC committees, councils and constituency groups alongside leaders from across the country.
Ashley Harpstreith, Executive Director of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities, spoke further about what the affiliate partnership has meant for Wyoming’s small cities in a recent episode of the CitiesSpeak Podcast, recorded earlier in June.
Could This Work for Your State League?
Many states, like Wyoming, have small communities that would benefit from greater access to national resources, advocacy and training. The key difference in Wyoming was that the state league board and leadership were willing to bring the Affiliate Member Program to its members, supported by a national organization engaged with communities of all sizes.
If you are interested in having your state municipal league look into the Affiliate Membership Program, here’s how it works:
- Check Eligibility: Confirm whether your state’s municipal league already participates in NLC’s Affiliate Member Program (currently Alaska, Ark., Md., Mont., Va., W. Va., Wyo.).
- Connect with Your State League Leadership: Have a conversation with the leadership of your state league to learn more and share what this program could mean for your state’s communities.
- Reach out to NLC: As NLC’s founding members, state leagues are in regular communication with the NLC team. Ask the league to reach out and learn more about what affiliate membership would look like in your state.
NLC Delivers for Municipalities of All Sizes
During Small Cities Month and throughout the year, NLC celebrates that over 80 percent of our members have populations under 50,000. If Wyoming’s story has inspired you to consider NLC membership for your city, town or village, please get in touch with us. Membership is likely more affordable than you expect, and now is an ideal time to join.
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