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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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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 first…

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
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  • Economic Opportunity & Workforce Development

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

AI in Action Case Study: Reorienting Permitting Around Resident Experience
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  • 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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Resource

City AI Governance Dashboard
Article

As AI Spreads Through City Hall, Chief AI Officers Emerge

By:
  1. Christopher Jordan
Resource

Artificial Intelligence Demystified- AI Toolkit for Municipalities
Resource

Members Only

From the Event: All Kinds of AI
Resource

Members Only

AI in Action: Municipality Case Studies Collection
Resource

CitiesSpeak Podcast: Integrating AI with City Services
Article

How AI Can Support Cities’ Sustainability Goals

By:
  1. Julia Glickman
  2. Christopher Jordan
Article

How to Train Municipal Staff for AI

By:
  1. Christopher Jordan
Article

Use AI to Transform City Operations
Resource

Members Only

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

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

By:
  1. Christopher Jordan
Resource

Members Only

From the Event: Introduction to AI in Municipal Government
Resource

Members Only

AI in Action Case Study: Reorienting Permitting Around Resident Experience
Article

What We Know About AI Adoption and Attitudes

By:
  1. CitiesSpeak Guest
Article

How Local Leaders Can Use AI to Advance Housing Policy

By:
  1. Joshua Pine
  2. Lena Geraghty
Article

AI in City Procurement: 5 Pitfalls to Avoid
Article

Local Leaders Navigate AI Governance, Infrastructure and Community Conversations

By:
  1. Christopher Jordan
Article

The Budgeting Process: Governments Find Power in AI
Article

Using AI and Machine Learning to Proactively Address Urban Blight
Resource

Members Only

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

Demystifying AI: Local Leaders Join NLC for Kick-off of AI Advisory Committee

By:
  1. Christopher Jordan
  2. Julia Glickman
Article

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

Members Only

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

Five Things Local Leaders Should Know about the American AI Action Plan

By:
  1. Angelina Panettieri
Article

Exploring AI Applications in City Government: The Promise and the Risks

By:
  1. Joshua Pine
  2. Lena Geraghty
Article

Talent as the New Infrastructure: How Cities Can Compete in the Age of AI

By:
  1. CitiesSpeak Guest
Resource

Members Only

Executive Actions Fact Sheet: Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence
Resource

Three Things to Know Video Series: December 2024
Resource

Members Only

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

Members Only

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

The Ethics and Governance of Generative AI:  

By:
  1. Christopher Jordan
  2. Joshua Pine
  3. Lena Geraghty
Resource

Members Only

Cities in Action: Affordable Housing: Artificial Intelligence and Public Portals Bring Focus
Article

Are City Leaders Ready for AI?
Resource

Fact Sheet Series: Understanding Data Centers
Resource

Members Only

City Summit 2025: Creating Opportunity in Uncertainty 
Resource

Members Only

Cities in Action: Equitable Access to City Services Through AI-Driven SMS Messaging 
Resource

CitiesSpeak Podcast: NLC CEO & Executive Director, Clarence E.  Anthony, on How Local Governments Deliver Hope
Resource

Basic Income in Cities: A Guide to City Experiments and Pilot Projects
Resource

Members Only

2025 U.S. Department of Commerce Local Government Priorities in the 100 days
Article

Cities EMERGING On Emerging Technologies

By:
  1. Julia Bauer
  2. Kyle Funk
  3. Julia Glickman
  4. Patrick Rochford
Resource

Members Only

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

Members Only

Executive Actions Fact Sheet: Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response
Resource

Members Only

Executive Actions Fact Sheet: Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future 
Article

What Happens If Your Network Goes Down Tomorrow?
Article

AI-Powered Education & Digital Equity for Municipalities
Article

Data Centers and Local Environmental Considerations

By:
  1. Kelly Aves
Article

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

By:
  1. Christopher Jordan
Article

City Summit 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah Explores Themes of AI, Civility and Strong Communities

By:
  1. Jeremy Grossman
Article

ChatGPT: What Mayors and Managers Must Know
Article

Helping Communities Understand the Data Center Boom

By:
  1. Kelly Aves
Article

How Cities Can Pair Audio Detection with AI-Powered License Plate Recognition and Video Technology to Revolutionize Addressing Gun Violence
Article

Building a Community of Care: How a City in Vermont Empowers their Arabic-Speaking Community

By:
  1. Justin Chu
Article

Cities and the Changing Labor Market: The Importance of Upskilling and Reskilling

By:
  1. CitiesSpeak Guest
Article

10 Top Highlights from NLC in 2025

By:
  1. Jeremy Grossman
Article

Two Days, One Question: What is in Store for the Economic Futures of Cities?

By:
  1. Corianne Rice
Article

City Summit Kicks Off in Salt Lake City

By:
  1. Melissa Williams
Article

Advancing Cities of the Future with Sustainability and Innovation

By:
  1. Catherine L. Werner
Article

NLC Wrapped: Our Top Blog Posts of 2025

By:
  1. Jeremy Grossman
Article

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

You Don’t Have to be a Big City to Build More Housing: Everett’s Housing Playbook for Mid-Size and Small Cities

By:
  1. CitiesSpeak Guest
Article

Telling Your City’s Story During COVID
Article

NLC’s Journey to 100: Reflecting on the Centennial Roadshow

By:
  1. Clarence E. Anthony
Article

Data Centers Are Coming: Are You Prepared?
Article

White House Releases 2026 National Drug Control Strategy

By:
  1. Stephanie Martinez-Ruckman
Article

A Conversation with ChatGPT on Local Governments, Emerging Technologies

By:
  1. Lena Geraghty
Article

Innovative Approaches to Civic Engagement

By:
  1. Christopher Jordan
Article

Building a Resilient Water Workforce in U.S. Cities
Article

Building Future-Focused Communities Through Strategic Grant Funding
Article

Local Impacts from Congress’ One, Big, Beautiful Bill

By:
  1. Carolyn Berndt
  2. Stephanie Martinez-Ruckman
  3. Brittney D. Kohler
  4. Dante Moreno
  5. Yucel Ors
  6. Angelina Panettieri
  7. Michael Wallace
Article

Racial Bias in Facial Recognition Technology: What City Leaders Should Know
Article

The Friday Night Lights of Invention Competitions
Article

Future-Proofing Government Through Technology Modernization
Article

The State of GovTech: A Must-Attend Conference for City Leaders on the Leading Edge of Innovation
Article

Women Lead the Way: Lessons from WIMG 2025 Summer Conference

By:
  1. Sarah Minster
Article

NLC Wrapped: Top Resources of 2025

By:
  1. Jeremy Grossman
Article

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

Leveraging Planning Tools and Technology to Unlock Housing Production

By:
  1. Stephanie Onuaja
Article

What Cities Can Learn from Congress’s Facebook Hearings
Article

Leading in the Moment Vlog Series: Episode 1

By:
  1. Dana D’Orazio
Article

5 Workforce Trends to Watch in 2024
Article

8 Ways City Summit 2024 Celebrated 100 Years of Strengthening Cities

By:
  1. Jeremy Grossman
Article

Building the Blueprint: Why Cities Must Treat Talent as Infrastructure

By:
  1. CitiesSpeak Guest
Article

Award Winning Public Private Partnerships Improve Healthy Housing Resident Service Delivery

By:
  1. Becky O’Meara, MSW
Article

How El Paso Is Advancing Cross-Border Coordination and Growth

By:
  1. Tomeka Lee
Article

Demographic Transitions: Who’s Staying, Who’s Leaving, and What Cities Can Do

By:
  1. Corianne Rice
Article

NLC Sets 10 Priorities for Federal Budget Negotiation

By:
  1. Irma Esparza Diggs