Flagship nlc Reports
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…
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…
City Fiscal Conditions 2025
The National League of Cities’ 40th annual City Fiscal Conditions report offers a comprehensive snapshot of the financial health of…
Featured resources: Advocating for strong federal-local partnerships
Featured resources: Housing
Featured resources: AI in Action
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Turning a Marina Investment Into Lasting Community Value in Corpus Christi
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How Oak Harbor, Wash. is Navigating Comprehensive Plan Updates with Small City Resources
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AI in Action Case Study: Rancho Cordova’s AI and Robotics Ecosystem
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AI in Action Case Study: Reorienting Permitting Around Resident Experience
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Arlington, TX: Using Creative Communications to Explain the Annual Budget
Cities in Action: Young Harris Financial Literacy Engagement
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Topics
Closing Urban-Rural Divide to Achieve Equity
The Sharing Economy is Evolving in Cities
How Innovation Creates Dynamic, Resilient Cities
- Christopher Jordan
Racing to Be First: How Autonomous Vehicles Will Affect Our Communities
Catalyzing Biodiversity on Buildings
- CitiesSpeak Guest
Big Ideas for Cities
Celebrate Public-Philanthropic Partnership
- Michael Wallace
How NLC’s Policy Leaders Define Innovation
- Julia Glickman
Your City’s Guide to Going Electric
Celebrating Our Small Cities
Why E-Book Access Matters
The Friday Night Lights of Invention Competitions
Four Key Steps for Effective Pay-for-Success City Programs
America’s Fastest Growing Cities Are Becoming More Diverse, But Face Rising Inequity
Why City Leaders Should Attend the Smart Cities NYC ’17 Conference
In San Francisco, Keeping Micromobility at Bay
PGW’s Energy Innovation Lab Fueling a Sustainable Future
CIE Spotlight: Inside Raleigh’s Innovative Approach to Community and Economic Development
- Corianne Rice
Cities Should Be the Focus of Federalism
Water Infrastructure & Environmental Protection: Federal Funding Opportunities for Urban, Rural and Suburban Communities
- Carolyn Berndt
Accelerating Rural Prosperity Through Regional Collaboration
By:
- Christiana McFarland
- Brian Dabson
A New Era of Fines and Fees Reform: Tackling Youth Restitution
- Chanell Hasty
NLC Member Survey: Governing Local Public Safety and Law Enforcement Programs
- Yucel Ors
When It Comes to Innovation, Partnerships Are Key
Getting Moving with SMART Grants
How are Cities Shaping an Autonomous Future?
NLC’s Research Advisory Committee Strengthens Partnerships & Expands Local Government Research
- Sarah Minster
Are Your Residents Within a 10-Minute Walk to a Park?
Leveraging National Service in Your City
What You Need to Know About Micromobility
Navigating Federal Transportation Programs and New Technical Assistance
How Your Local Library Can Help Expand Access to Nature
- Melanie Robinson
NLC University Seminars Prepare City Leaders for an Uncertain Future
What American Cities Can Learn From Toronto’s Success
The Dubuque Recipe to Rebuilding a City
120 Mayors on the Issues Facing Urban America
How the President’s Budget Proposal Could Stop the Transit Revolution in Its Tracks
Preemption Threatens Economic Development and Innovation
Cities, Innovation, and the Growth of the Digital Economy
How One Startup Support Organization Builds Entrepreneurial Networks
- Alan Zagier
Housing and Cities — A Deeper Look at the Numbers
One Application, Three Transportation Grants
- Brittney D. Kohler
Empowering Local Businesses for a Greener Future
- Rosanna Mulcahy
Transit’s Big Impact in Smaller Urban Areas like Flagstaff
- CitiesSpeak Guest
New Transportation Grants for Cities in Congress’ Infrastructure Bill
- Brittney D. Kohler
Kaiser Permanente, ‘Mayors & CEOs’ Announce $200 Million for Homelessness Prevention
How Autonomous Vehicles Will Shape Cities
In Dublin, California, an Affordable Housing Success Story
President Trump Issues Executive Orders to Secure Environmental Legacy
- Carolyn Berndt
What Cities Should Know About the Micromobility Landscape
Decarbonizing Delivery Amid the Blending of Physical and Digital Retail
- Julia Glickman
Housing for Returning Citizens in Small Cities: Challenges and Solutions
- Tony McCright, Jr.
Innovative Ways to Deal with Traffic Congestion & Road Funding
By:
- Kyle Funk
- Lindsey Volz
As Cities Become ‘Smart’, Public Safety Looks to FirstNet for Priority Broadband
Localized Water Infrastructure: Next Generation Water Management Solutions
By:
- Melissa Kelly
- Caroline Koch
NLC Launches High Performance Leadership Cohorts
Small Cell Wireless Technology in Cities
Building Affordable Housing after Hurricane Harvey
Want to Close the Digital Divide? For Cities, Partnerships Are Key
Five Strategies For Growing Small Businesses in 2018
Engaging Youth Workforce through Sustainable Career Paths
- Nya Anthony
NLC Launches 2023 Resilient Infrastructure Technical Assistance Program
- Monica Gregory
President’s American Jobs Plan is Critical to Local Economic Recovery
- Irma Esparza Diggs
What Cities Can Learn from Congress’s Facebook Hearings
Connecting Kids & Nature Through Creative Policy
- Andrew Moore
Planning a More Resilient Future: Four Takeaways From the 2017 Resilient Cities Summit
Are “Soft Skills” Critical to the Future of Work?
Modernizing Fremont Boulevard to Be Smart and Safe
Regreening Cities: Strategies to Build Resilience and Community
Top 10 Moments at City Summit 2019
How Local Leaders Can Leverage National, State and Local Environmental Justice Data Tools
By:
- Kyle Funk
- Peyton Siler Jones
- Joshua Pine
Is Your City Ready to BUILD Like a TIGER This Summer?
Three Ways Blockchain Could Transform Local Government
Three Lessons From America’s Legacy Cities
AI-Powered Education & Digital Equity for Municipalities
Could Higher Productivity Growth Lead to More Affordable Housing?
Baton Rouge’s Path to Healthy and Affordable Housing
- CitiesSpeak Guest
Examining the Role of Land Use and Regulations in Housing Development
- Stephanie Onuaja
Building the Blueprint: Why Cities Must Treat Talent as Infrastructure
- CitiesSpeak Guest
Three Exemplary Design Projects for Civic Health
In Toronto, Arts and Culture Take Center Stage
Cities Go Digital
House Republicans Outline Carbon Emissions Reduction Legislation
Top Ten Moments From Infrastructure Week 2019
Building Future-Focused Communities Through Strategic Grant Funding
New Bill Threatens City Authority on Small Cell Infrastructure
A Suburban Model for Successful Downtown Growth
Cities Addressing the Loss of Low-Rent Affordable Housing
Three Things Small Cities Teach Us About Civic Engagement
How Washington, D.C., Fought Housing Displacement
Solving Unsheltered Homelessness
Federal Funding Opportunities That Support Resilient Infrastructure, Smart Surfaces
By:
- Kyle Funk
- Brigid Deegan
Solutions for Our Future
Minneapolis Makes a Bold Move on Housing
Is Rent Control Available to Your City?
How One Alaskan Borough Survived A Cyber Attack
Cities’ Transportation Efforts Ramp Up for 2020
Seven Local Goals for Recovery Legislation
- Irma Esparza Diggs
Reimagining Your Civic Assets: A Blueprint for Future-Ready Cities
Unlocking Efficiency: Best Practices for Development Review Success
Five Ways to Promote Civic Health Through Community Design
5 Local Housing Affordability Strategies that Work
Released, Now What: The Intersection of Justice Reform and Housing in Response to COVID-19
Equity and Economic Development Must Go Hand in Hand
Three Important Takeaways from Silicon Valley
Federal Funding to Help Municipalities Implement Modern Energy Codes
The Ethics and Governance of Generative AI:
By:
- Christopher Jordan
- Joshua Pine
- Lena Geraghty
Launching a New Year of Inclusive Entrepreneurship with the CIE Program
- Safaya Fawzi
In Mooresville, North Carolina, High-Speed Internet Drives Success in Schools
‘Space to Grow’ Celebrates National Infrastructure Week
Mayors Agree States and Cities Must Work Together
Preserving History and a Technology-Driven Future in Boston
How San Jose is Closing the Digital Divide
Lessons from Cities of Opportunity Pilot Initiative Drive Launch of New Technical Assistance RFP
How Cities Are Engaging in the Metaverse
- Julia Glickman
Highlights and Takeaways from NLC’s Participation in NYC Climate Week
By:
- Steve Patterson
- Carolyn Berndt
- Brigid Deegan
How Six Cities Are Pursuing Equity and Innovation in Economic Development
National League of Cities Recognizes Presidential Platforms’ Commitment to Local Public Safety Programs
- Yucel Ors
Local Governments Can’t Shut Down — They Need Partnership From Washington
State, Local and Federal Partnership: An Essential Tool in Addressing COVID-19
The Impact of the Looming Eviction Cliff on School-age Youth
Communities and Colleges Partnering to Address the Affordable Housing Shortage
- Christine Baker-Smith
Insights from the 2023 Northeast Resilient Cities Summit
- Peyton Siler Jones
Developing Affordable Housing Through Collaborative City-University Partnerships
- Stephanie Onuaja
Understanding the Current Housing Finance Residential and Economic Outlook
- Stephanie Onuaja
RAISE Grant Rollout: Local Transportation Projects Moving
By:
- McKaia Dykema
- Kyle Funk
- Brittney D. Kohler
What the Housing for the 21st Century and ROAD to Housing Acts Mean for Local Governments
- Michael Wallace
Tyler Tech Partners in Support of Strong Cities
For a Smooth Ride, e-Scooter Providers and Cities Need to Get Along
For Smart Cities, Blockchain Technology Opens New Possibilities
Why Cities Need to Lead With Urgency
How City Leaders Can Ensure Their Residents Have Access to Health Care
Local Leaders Navigate AI Governance, Infrastructure and Community Conversations
- Christopher Jordan
Infrastructure for the 21st Century: The Importance of Broadband to Cities
Self-Driving Cars Are Here. Now What Should We Do?
How Infrastructure Became Washington’s Latest Obsession
Four Ways to Fund Effective Economic Development In Your City
How Toronto Gets Urban Housing and Zoning Right
Reclaiming Our Local Democracy
DOJ Offers Community-Based Crime Reduction Grants to Cities
Lincoln Makes Small Cell Work for Residents
Local Leaders Will be Our Climate Change Heroes
What a Broadband Preemption Victory in Arkansas Means For Rural Cities
How the City of Oakland is leveraging on-the-ground organizations to understand and meet the needs of communities
Adapting City Processes and Staff to Telework
Identifying COVID-19 Vaccine Deserts and Implementing Interventions
Cities Push Forward to Address Community Gun Violence and Mental Health
By:
- Kacy Kostiuk
- Joel Navarro
Congress Agrees – Let’s Use Federal Grants to Save Lives on Roads
- Brittney D. Kohler
Big Impact for Our Smallest Businesses
Six “Best Fit” Federal Funding Opportunities for Connecting Children to Nature
- Melanie Robinson
How Local Governments Can Solve Today’s Toughest Challenges
Federal Response to Escalating Wildfires
Pedestrian Zones Are Here to Stay
By:
- Julia Bauer
- Kyle Funk
- Patrick Rochford
Tapping the Potential of (and Funding for) Nature-Based Solutions
What Does the Surgeon General’s Declaration on Gun Violence Mean for Cities?
- Sarah Weller-Pegna, MPH
Legacy Reborn: Reenergizing a Historically Black Shopping District
- Tomeka Lee
Calling All Municipalities – Safe Streets Grants Available Now
By:
- Kyle Funk
- Brittney D. Kohler
America’s Housing Comeback: Why The Moment for Housing Is Now
- Steve Patterson
What You Can Do Now to Make Sure Your Residents Get Their Money Back This Tax Season
- Patrick Hain
Talent as the New Infrastructure: How Cities Can Compete in the Age of AI
- CitiesSpeak Guest
List of Top Issues & Resources Prioritized by Local Governments In 2023
- Rebeca Schiller
Two Days, One Question: What is in Store for the Economic Futures of Cities?
- Corianne Rice
The Re-Emergence of Neighborhoods
Addressing Climate Change in Infrastructure Legislation
- Carolyn Berndt
Philadelphia’s Housing Crisis Demands Bold Action — Mayor Parker’s $2 Billion H.O.M.E. Plan Delivers
- CitiesSpeak Guest
In Detroit, Neighborhood Redevelopment Starts With “Trusting Your Gut”
What You Need to Know About the Latest Debt Ceiling Negotiations
- Irma Esparza Diggs
Public Spaces and Local Democracy
For Wireless Broadband, Raleigh Finds Common Ground Through Partnerships
Tempe Brings Transparency to Small Cell Installation
Leadership in 2019: Why Cities Need to Rethink Digital Services
How Cities Can Revive Recycling
What Congress Learned from Miami Gardens
Stewarding our Legacy Cities
What’s the Difference Between Shelter in Place, Safer at Home, and Stay Home Orders?
Getting Residents Online in a Pandemic Crisis
Keeping Communities Safe During Religious Gatherings
State of the Cities in the Wake of COVID-19
Data Outlooks in the Age of COVID-19
Energy and Environment Programs See Boost Under Moving Forward Proposal
Reopening in Cities Across the Country: What Does the Data Show
Cities and Libraries Partner to Achieve a Complete Census Count – How We’re Doing it in Kansas City
Disaggregated Data by Race and Ethnicity Can Help Us Get Closer to Recovery from COVID-19
5 Areas Where Cities Will Lead Residents to Better Health in 2021
- Katrina Forrest, JD
A Conversation with ChatGPT on Local Governments, Emerging Technologies
- Lena Geraghty
Manufactured Housing: Making Homeownership Attainable
- Stephanie Onuaja
NLC Wrapped: Our Top Blog Posts of 2024
- Jeremy Grossman
How NLC’s Filling the Gap Tool Helps Communities Unlock Housing Finance
By:
- Stephanie Onuaja
- Sarah Minster
Rapid Grants, Innovative Ideas: Developing Economic Mobility Strategies in 2025
- Justin Chu
10 Things for Local Leaders to Know About the “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act”
- Michael Wallace
Fiscal Year 2023 Funding Bill: What Local Leaders Need to Know
- Irma Esparza Diggs
An Inside Look at Equitable Economic Development in Sacramento
Five Takeaways for Cities from the FCC’s Small Cell Preemption Order
Keeping City Workers Safe in the Wake of COVID-19
Local Transportation Wins in House Moving Forward Act
Long-Term Approaches to Preventing Evictions Now and Beyond COVID-19
Building a Just and Fair Anti-Eviction Strategy
Using Data to Understand Your Local Eviction Crisis
Addressing the Impacts of Environmental Challenges & Early Childhood Development
- Jammie Albert
2023 Media Highlights
- Rebeca Schiller