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Flagship nlc Reports

  • Pay to Print
  • Report
July 10, 2026

State of the Cities 2026

America’s cities are not just surviving, they are innovating and delivering every day. Mayors remain committed to providing top-quality services…

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May 15, 2026

Municipal Infrastructure Conditions Report 2026

Communities across the country depend on reliable infrastructure to ensure public safety, economic opportunity and quality of life. Over the past several…

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  • Report
November 21, 2025

City Fiscal Conditions 2025

The National League of Cities’ 40th annual City Fiscal Conditions report offers a comprehensive snapshot of the financial health of…

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Featured resources: Advocating for strong federal-local partnerships

2026 Federal Action Agenda

NLC has a biannual agenda mapped to the Congressional cycle to guide local advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and with the Administration. Learn more about the issues that matter most…

National Municipal Policy

NLC has a biannual agenda mapped to the Congressional cycle to guide local advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and with the Administration. Learn more about the issues that matter most in your community.

Federal Budget Tracker

Updated July 2026 Direct Federal Funding and Other Supports for Cities and Towns  Why It’s Important Annual federal funding for direct grants that aid America’s 19,000 non-partisan cities, towns and…

Supreme Court Order Reshapes Litigation Over Federal Election Executive Order

10 Things for Local Leaders to Know About the “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act”

Your Community’s Voice Matters: How to Submit Comments on OMB’s Proposed Grant Changes

Featured resources: Housing

  • Community & Economic Development
  • Housing

Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook
Members Only

Ending Homelessness: A Guide for Local Governments

21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

What is the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act?  Following a year of negotiation between the House, Senate, and White House, on July 11, 2026, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the…

Where to Start Now That the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Has Passed

Local Eviction Prevention Policy and Program Tool

Filling the Gap Tool: Unlocking Housing Finance

Updated as of June 2026

Featured resources: AI in Action

  • Innovation
  • Technology

Artificial Intelligence Demystified- AI Toolkit for Municipalities

AI in Action: Empowering Local Governments

NLC has a biannual agenda mapped to the Congressional cycle to guide local advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and with the Administration. Learn more about the issues that matter most in your community.

Fact Sheet Series: Understanding Data Centers

A Primer for Local Governments: Understanding Data Centers Significant increases in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing and other digital services is driving greater demand for the physical…

Data Center Local Action Tracker

Local governments across the country are responding to rapid growth in data center development. Cities, towns and counties are adopting zoning standards, negotiating development agreements, reviewing infrastructure impacts, establishing moratoria…
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Recent Case Studies

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  • Municipal Finance

Turning a Marina Investment Into Lasting Community Value in Corpus Christi
Members Only
  • Community & Economic Development

How Oak Harbor, Wash. is Navigating Comprehensive Plan Updates with Small City Resources
Members Only
  • Economic Opportunity & Workforce Development

AI in Action Case Study: Rancho Cordova’s AI and Robotics Ecosystem
Members Only
  • Infrastructure

AI in Action Case Study: Reorienting Permitting Around Resident Experience
Members Only
  • Civic Engagement

Arlington, TX: Using Creative Communications to Explain the Annual Budget
  • Community & Economic Development

Cities in Action: Young Harris Financial Literacy Engagement
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Topics

Civic Engagement

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Education and Early Childhood Success

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Housing

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Resource

Members Only

From the Event: Smarter Cities Now: Using AI to Improve Services and Strengthen Communities
Article

Transparency is Fundamental to the Success of Drone As First Responder
Resource

Members Only

Guidance for Procuring AI in City Operations
Resource

Members Only

Creating AI Policy or Guidelines in Your City
Resource

CitiesSpeak Podcast: Debating Data Center Development with Kate Stoll, Councilmember Nikki Lee & Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell
Resource

Members Only

Know My City Community Advisor Tool
Article

Local Economies in Motion: Preparing for Technology and Automation Transitions

By:
  1. Corianne Rice
Article

FCC Proposal Could Reshape How Cities Manage Wireline Deployment

By:
  1. CitiesSpeak Guest
Article

Cities Need Broadband Partners That Deliver Value
Article

From Budget Approval to Public Understanding: Building a System That Sustains Accountability
Resource

Members Only

From the Event: Data Center Impacts on Municipal Energy, Water and Air Systems
Resource

Members Only

From the Event: AI Data Center Electricity Use and Electric Grid Impacts
Resource

Members Only

From the Event: Local Responses to Data Center Development
Article

Local Leaders Navigate AI Governance, Infrastructure and Community Conversations

By:
  1. Christopher Jordan
Resource

Data Center Local Action Tracker
Article

What Happens If Your Network Goes Down Tomorrow?
Article

Policing Smarter From Above
Article

Building Future-Focused Communities Through Strategic Grant Funding
Resource

CitiesSpeak Podcast: Closing the Digital Divide with Angelina Panettieri
Resource

Members Only

AI in Action Case Study: Using AI-Based Translation to Support Multilingual Participation in Public Meetings
Resource

Members Only

AI in Action Case Study: Rancho Cordova’s AI and Robotics Ecosystem
Resource

Members Only

AI in Action: Municipality Case Studies Collection
Resource

Members Only

Arlington, TX: Using Creative Communications to Explain the Annual Budget
Article

Leveraging Planning Tools and Technology to Unlock Housing Production

By:
  1. Stephanie Onuaja
Article

Empowering Small Cities Through Local Data
Article

The Benefits of a State Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) for Cities

By:
  1. Christine Baker-Smith
Article

Breaking Down Barriers to Data Access for City Policymakers

By:
  1. Christine Baker-Smith
Article

Infrastructure Week 2026: Takeaways for Local Governments

By:
  1. Annie Mazzarella
  2. Melissa Williams
Article

How Milwaukee is Boosting Connectivity for First Responders
Resource

The Policy Compass in Dubuque, Iowa: Building Equity through Smarter, Shared Data
Article

How NLC’s AI & Emerging Tech Forum Is Advancing Responsible AI in Local Government

By:
  1. Christopher Jordan
Article

What Is Drone as First Responder? And Why Are Cities Adopting It?
Article

Railroads’ Safety Investments Showed Progress
Resource

Members Only

Key Questions to Ask When Considering Data Centers in Your Community
Article

Why Vehicle Data Access Matters for Local Governments
Article

Powering the Digital Age: Propane’s Role in Data Center Resilience and Low-Emission Power
Article

Understanding EPA’s Reuse Considerations for Data Centers on Brownfield and Superfund Sites

By:
  1. Christopher Jordan
Article

What Does “Efficiency” Really Mean for Cities Right Now?
Article

AI in Local Government: Lessons from 2025 and Emerging Cyber Threats in 2026
Article

Cybersecurity Isn’t the Problem: Cyber Risk Governance Is
Resource

HelloNation: Bring Your City’s Story to Life
Resource

CitiesSpeak Podcast: Clarence Anthony Live in Boston
Article

Infrastructure Funding: Smart Strategies for Forging Resilience
Article

As AI Spreads Through City Hall, Chief AI Officers Emerge

By:
  1. Christopher Jordan
Resource

Members Only

Executive Actions Fact Sheet: Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure 
Resource

Members Only

City Summit 2025: Creating Opportunity in Uncertainty 
Article

What’s on the 2026 Horizon for NLC’s Federal Advocacy

By:
  1. Archana Sridhar
Article

Understanding Technical Assistance at NLC

By:
  1. Seth Eli Barlow
Article

NLC Wrapped: Top Resources of 2025

By:
  1. Jeremy Grossman
Article

Data Centers Are Coming: Are You Prepared?