NADO

10/13/2026

We extend a huge thank you to Ecostrat Inc. and the BDO Zone Initiative for being our Gold Sponsor at our 2026 NADO Annual Training Conference (ATC) in Reno, Nevada, next week! Ecostrat’s support is helping bring attendees together for an incredible experience filled with insight, inspiration, and meaningful connections. If you are joining us in Reno, please make sure to visit Ecostrat’s booth in the Exhibitor area to learn how a BDO Zone Rating can help your region attract future bio-based investment and project development.

10/05/2026

Back by popular demand is the public vote for the “People’s Choice” winner of the 2026 NADO Photo Contest! This photo album contains each of the 2026 photo contest submissions. A ‘LIKE’ will indicate a vote and the photo with the most ‘LIKES’ will be declared the People’s Choice winner! The voting will start today, Monday, October 5, and run through Friday, October 9 at 5:00 p.m. ET. The NADO Photo Contest is the annual opportunity for member organizations to tell the story of their regions through images. Thanks to all of our members for the beautiful and inspiring array of photos submitted this year! The People’s Choice Winner, in addition to the winners of the four contest categories, will be named at our Annual Training Conference in Reno, Nevada! (This is the second of two posts to accommodate all of the photos. Make sure to look at the first post to see all the photos!)

10/05/2026

Back by popular demand is the public vote for the “People’s Choice” winner of the 2026 NADO Photo Contest! This photo album contains each of the 2026 photo contest submissions. A ‘LIKE’ will indicate a vote and the photo with the most ‘LIKES’ will be declared the People’s Choice winner! The voting will start today, Monday, October 5, and run through Friday, October 9 at 5:00 p.m. ET. The NADO Photo Contest is the annual opportunity for member organizations to tell the story of their regions through images. Thanks to all of our members for the beautiful and inspiring array of photos submitted this year! The People’s Choice Winner, in addition to the winners of the four contest categories, will be named at our Annual Training Conference in Reno, Nevada! (This is the first of 2 posts for this contest. Please make sure you go to the second post to view all the photos!)

10/02/2026

This morning, NADO Executive Director Joe McKinney joined the panel, "Leading Communities Through Transformative Change" alongside Tony P**a (The Brookings Institution), Farah Ahmad (Partners for Rural Transformation), and Susan Mims (Dogwood Health Trust), at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's 2026 Investing in Rural America Conference in Asheville, North Carolina. The panelists explored how rural communities have successfully transformed following economic crises, natural disasters and demographic shifts.

“Investing in Rural America” hosted by Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond panel features former Land of Sky Regional Council Executive Director and NADO Executive Director Joe McKinney. Other members of the panel include Dogwood Health Trust CEO Dr. Susan Mims, Farah Ahmad, President with Partners for Rural Transformation and Tony P**a, Senior Fellow with The Brookings Institution.

09/28/2026

Last week, NADO Program Manager Joe D'Antonio presented in Amarillo, Texas, at the National Association of Counties Energy Symposium. Joe joined a luncheon general session panel on navigating the growth of data centers and outlined tips and best practices for rural leaders to consider. Collaborating together for a regional vision is one approach to data centers that Joe offered to the county leaders in attendance.

For more resources on data centers and other energy topics, be sure to check out the Rural Energy Academy resource page on our website (https://www.nado.org/rural-energy-academy/), or join us in Reno, Nevada, this October for sessions at our Annual Training Conference (https://www.nado.org/nado-events/2026-annual-training-conference/?tab=1).

📸: National Association of Counties

09/24/2026

This week, the inaugural cohort of the Training Program for Emerging Leaders for the EDA Atlanta Region gathered in North Carolina for site visits with Foothills Regional Commission and Western Piedmont Council of Governments.

The cohort visited and learned more about numerous community and economic development projects in each region including Isothermal Community College, McDowell Technical Community College, McDowell Chamber of Commerce, Drexel Business Park, Catawba County Economic Development Corporation, Trivium Corporate Center, Claremont International Business Park, Hickory Regional Airport, and the Hickory Riverwalk.

Many thanks to Danna Stansbury and the Foothills Regional Commission team, and Anthony Starr and the Western Piedmont Council of Governments team for their thoughtful planning and for hosting the cohort this week!

09/17/2026

We are extending the submission deadline for this year's NADO Member Photo Contest! The submission form will now be available until Friday, October 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET. For more than a decade, the NADO Member Photo Contest has served as an opportunity for NADO member organizations to tell the story of their regions through photos that capture the people and places that make their communities interesting places to live, work, and play.

Members can access the submission form on our website, or submit them via email to [email protected].

The NADO Member Photo Contest is an annual opportunity for our member organizations to tell the story of their regions through images that capture the people and places that make their communities interesting places to live, work, and play.

09/16/2026

Good news! Early bird registration pricing for the 2026 NADO Annual Training Conference (ATC) has been extended to Wednesday, September 23, at 5:00 p.m. ET giving you additional time to take advantage of discounted registration rates.

Registration details and links can be found here: https://www.nado.org/nado-events/2026-annual-training-conference/?tab=2

If you have not yet registered, now is the perfect opportunity to secure your spot and save on conference registration rates. NADO’s ATC offers valuable networking opportunities, engaging educational sessions, and practical insights for regional development professionals from across the country. View the full conference program here: https://www.nado.org/nado-events/2026-annual-training-conference/?tab=4

Don't miss your chance to join us and benefit from the extended pricing period. We look forward to seeing you at the conference!

October 19-22, 2026 Reno, NV

09/10/2026

An updated NADO Annual Training Conference (ATC) program is now available and includes session times and descriptions to help you plan your conference experience in Reno, Nevada, October 19-22, 2026. With more than 30 breakout learning sessions, 4 plenaries, 11 mobile tours, 2 networking receptions, and 1 unforgettable karaoke night, you'll be busy from start to finish at this year's conference! While final details will be added in the coming weeks, now is the perfect time to start mapping out your schedule. The final program will be available in Whova, the conference app, when it launches in October.

View the updated program here: https://www.nado.org/nado-events/2026-annual-training-conference/?tab=4

Register by 9/12 for early bird rates here: https://www.nado.org/nado-events/2026-annual-training-conference/?tab=2

09/08/2026

Don't forget, our NADO Member Photo Contest is accepting submissions until 5:00 p.m. ET this Friday, September 11. Submit your organization's photos now!

The 2026 NADO Member Photo Contest is now accepting submissions! 📸 For more than a decade, the NADO Member Photo Contest has served as an opportunity for NADO member organizations to tell the story of their regions through photos that capture the people and places that make their communities interesting places to live, work, and play. This year's contest will accept photos from now until Friday, September 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Learn more about the photo contest rules and find the submission form on our website: https://www.nado.org/photocontest/