8 Ways the Arts Can Boost Your Local Economy
The arts and culture sector can have a larger impact on your city’s economy (in terms of GDP) than other industries like tourism and transportation — but city leaders often…
Five Things City Leaders Should Know About the Paris Withdrawal
After President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, hundreds of city leaders spoke out to denounce the decision. From New York to…
How Your Community Can Address the Housing Crisis
https://www.nlc.org/article/2021/12/21/how-your-community-can-address-the-housing-crisis/
Safe and affordable housing is key to thriving communities. According to the National League of Cities (NLC)’s annual State of the Cities report for 2021, housing is one of the…
For Cities, a New Guide to Tackling the Housing Crisis
https://www.nlc.org/article/2018/08/29/for-cities-a-new-guide-to-tackling-the-housing-crisis/
In 2018, for the fifth year in a row, housing featured as one of the top 10 issues addressed by mayors in their state of the city speeches — with…
Connecting the Dots: Leveraging Community Benefit Programs with City Leadership
“When you look at maps of neighboring communities and ZIP codes and see significant disparities in life expectancy within a couple of miles – sometimes blocks – you’re compelled to…
New Report Documents Pandemic’s Impact on Cities Across America, Continued Need for Relief and Recovery Funds
This first comprehensive report of its kind offers a data-driven perspective on how COVID-19 exacerbated structural inequities and what conditions made some communities more resilient than others. Washington, D.C. –…
5 Ways Cities Can Use Data to Become More Efficient and Effective
https://www.nlc.org/article/2018/10/19/five-ways-to-prepare-for-a-data-driven-future/
“Data and technology” was identified as one of the top 10 issues mayors were prioritizing in their 2018 state of the city speeches. It’s easy to see why: data can…
ARPA and Public Spaces: How Cities are Investing in Places to Live, Work and Play
Across America, public parks and recreational spaces have long offered free-to-low-cost opportunities for visitors and residents to engage in local communities. During the pandemic, the value of these spaces as…
Why Now is the Right Time to Create an Apprenticeship Program
Despite low unemployment (PDF), we know municipalities are still facing persistent workforce challenges. On average, local governments need 96 days to find qualified candidates to fill open positions, compared to…
Three Things to Know Video Series: August 2025
https://www.nlc.org/resource/three-things-to-know-video-series-august-2025/
August 2025: State of the Cities, Housing Supply Accelerator Summit and Summer Gatherings This month, NLC covers State of the Cities 2025, the Housing Supply Accelerator Summit, and Summer Gatherings.…