Last month, NACCED took part in the 2024 National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference held in Hillsborough County (Tampa, FL). NACCED leadership engaged in various sessions, project tours, and networking events throughout the conference and the Hillsborough County area. Members offered their expertise, exchanged successful practices, and worked closely with county officials on key issues influencing community well-being and economic development. Members participated in policy advocacy efforts alongside NACo, connected with community leaders to discuss economic growth possibilities, and obtained valuable insights into initiatives designed to improve local infrastructure and create community opportunities.
On Thursday, July 11 NACCED visited the Donation Center within the Kids Village at Children’s Home Network, located west of downtown Tampa. The Donation Center supports foster youth at Kid's Village by helping them regain a sense of normalcy, independence, and self-confidence. It provides residents with essential items such as clothes, shoes, self-care and hygiene products, school supplies, and room decor. These belongings ensure that every child not only lives but thrives. The state of Florida offers $300 in annual clothing allowance for children in foster care, but this amount falls short of covering their needs especially with rising costs. Thanks to the generosity of donors, Children's Home Network supplies children with new and suitable clothing, school supplies, hygiene products, and other items, helping them feel confident and integrated into Kid's Village, their school, and the broader community.
Members next visited New Life Village (NLV). Founded in 2012, NLV is in east Tampa, an area significantly affected by affordable housing and foster care crises. NLV is an intergenerational community created to support families raising foster-adoptive and kinship children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma. It provides program-rich, below-market housing and onsite wrap-around services. Senior citizens also reside in the Village, acting as surrogate grandparents, tutors, and mentors to these children. The Village fosters permanency, safety, community, healing, and nurturing relationships within a trauma-informed environment.
NACCED concluded the day visiting tenants of the Sweet Daisey Subdivision, a joint effort between Hillsborough County and Habitat for Humanity. The subdivision received HOME Program funding from Hillsborough County through an RFP process in 2020. The award of $654,000 funded the acquisition of the land for the 10-unit subdivision and the developer fee. The subdivision was previously abandoned with infrastructure in place. All homeowners are below 80% of Area Median Income. The project also received $750K from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh for funding the construction of the homes. The homeowners received $25K in DPA funding from the State of Florida. Several homes in the subdivision were theme builds including Women Build, Faith Build and Real Estate Build.
NACCED attended the NACo Community Economic and Workforce Development (CEWD) Policy Steering Committee meeting on Friday, July 12 held at the Tampa Convention Center. CEWD’s meeting kicked off with a presentation by George “Mac” McCarthy, President & CEO of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. McCarthy gave a live demonstration of the institute’s Who Owns America (WHOA) platform. WHOA employs data mapping to identify property ownership patterns in U.S. cities. The project utilizes public data sources to map each parcel in a city based on its ownership characteristics, creating color-coded maps that illustrate areas with higher rates of owner occupancy and regions where corporate landlords are more active to raise awareness of property ownership.
Next was a panel titled Advancing Housing Affordability Through Innovation. The panel was moderated by Mac McCarthy and comprised of Baltimore County, MD Director of Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentTerry Hickey, NACCED Policy Director Josh Brandwein; and President-Elect of the Florda Home Builders Association and Florida Housing Finance Corporation Board Chairman Ryan Benson. The panel discussed cross-sector collaboration ideas to seed and scale innovative approaches to create more abundant, affordable, and sustainable housing nationally.
Following was a brief on How U.S. – China Relations Shape Global (and Local) Markets by Matthew J. Squeri, Senior Advisor for the Office of China Coordination with the U.S. Department of State. Squeri provided the committee with a deep dive into the complex nature of the United States-China relationship, a dynamic that significantly shapes global markets, innovation, and economic growth. Squeri explored the intricacies of trade dynamics, examining the various factors influencing bilateral trade, tariffs, and trade agreements between the two economic powers. Additionally, the brief addressed geopolitical tensions that arise from the relationship and how critical aspects of technological competition impact local economies, businesses, and communities.
Afternoon sessions began with an overview on the World Education Services (WES) Skilled Immigrant Integration Program (SIIP) from Leticia Farrera, WES Program Manager and Trevor Shealy, WES Program Specialist. SIIP supports counties, regional organizations, and states in promoting the inclusion of internationally trained and experienced immigrants and refugees. Since its inception in 2017, 40 SIIP communities spanning the country have reaped the benefits of the program’s tailored training, coaching, and technical assistance.
Continuing the afternoon was a panel discussion on STEM Workforce Resilience: Tackling Challenges, Unlocking Potential. Panelists included the Honorable Kathryn Starkey, Commissioner for Pasco County, FL; Jennifer Kunz, Associate Center Director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center for NASA; Estella Gonzalez, Director and Executive Director of the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity with Harris County, TX; Brian Baluta, Director of State and Local Government Affairs for Florida with Lockheed Martin Space; and Tom Mudano, President & CEO of AmSkills.
Panelists provided an overview of breakthroughs in robotics, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing that are transforming the job market and necessitating the acquisition of new skills for workers. Technological advancements are reshaping industries and highlight the critical role counties can play in supporting job training and education programs to prepare the workforce for the future. Attendees gained valuable insights into strategies for enhancing local education initiatives and workforce development to meet the demands of new innovations.
Concluding the day was the CEWD Business meeting. The meeting provides a platform for policy resolutions addressing a specific issue or piece of legislation to be considered by the committee for passage. Mary Keating, NACCED representative on the NACo Board of Directors and Director of Community Services for DuPage County, IL presented four resolutions co-authored by NACCED for committee consideration.
Resolutions considered and passed by the committee were increased Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); calling for congressional action on reauthorizing the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program to allow program flexibility for improved housing creation and preservation and to authorize increased federal funding assistance to support affordable housing development; urging Congress to pass the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023 to expand and preserve the nation’s affordable housing stock; and supporting congressional action to create a permanent extension of the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) and other enhancements to the program to allow for private sector investment and economic growth in low-income communities.
On Saturday, July 13 NACCED attended the Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Business Meeting. Caucus sessions began with a panel discussion titled Securing the Ballot: Cybersecurity in Local Elections. Panelists included Keara Mendez, Director of Advocacy with the Center for Tech and Civic Life; Carolina Lopez, Executive Director for the Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions; and John Cohen, Executive Director, Program for Countering Hybrid Threats, Center for Internet Security. Attendees learned about challenges and solutions for safeguarding election infrastructure from cyber threats; gained a deep understanding of the latest strategies, cutting-edge technologies, and collaborative efforts being employed to ensure the integrity and security of local elections; and were provided with valuable insights into measures being taken to protect the electoral process from malicious activities, highlighting best practices and innovative approaches to fortifying systems against cyber-attacks.
Next, caucus members and attendees were joined by the Honorable Kathryn Barger, Supervisor with Los Angeles County, CA and Co-chair of NACo’s Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing. Barger highlighted the essential role counties play in delivering high-quality and accessible mental health services. Innovative county-led solutions have demonstrated how local governments are pioneering advancements in mental health care. Additionally, Barger outlined necessary intergovernmental collaborations and public-private partnerships needed to reimagine mental health policies, programs, and practices.
Concluding the caucus meeting was a panel discussion titled On the Fast Track: Challenges and Opportunities of High-Speed Rail in Urban Counties. Panelists included Stephanie Perez-Arrieta, Chief of the Federal Railroad Administration’sEnvironmental Review Division with the U.S. Department of Transportation; Charles Small, West Region Government Affairs Officer with HNTB; and LeAnna Cumber, Chief Strategy Officer with Herzog. Panelists discussed diverse facets and challenges of implementing high-speed rail systems in urban environments and insights into the strategic considerations and collaborative approaches necessary to overcome hurdles to successfully integrate high-speed rail into the fabric of urban transportation networks.
To view photos from NACCED’s conference participation check out our Twitter page.
For further information, official conference program material can be found on the NACo website.
