National Association of Development Organizations

National Association of Development Organizations
Name	National Association of Development Organizations
Abbreviation	NADO
Formation	1967
Type	Nonprofit association
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	United States
Membership	Regional development organizations, councils of governments
Leader title	Executive Director

National Association of Development Organizations

The National Association of Development Organizations serves as a national association for regional economic development entities, council networks and planning organizations across the United States, linking local development partners with federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It provides training, technical assistance, and policy advocacy, interacting with institutions including the Congress of the United States, the White House, the Government Accountability Office, and interagency councils. The association often engages with nonprofit organizations, philanthropic foundations, and academic centers such as Brookings Institution, Urban Institute, and university-based regional planning programs.

History

The association was established in the late 1960s amid federal initiatives like the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, the expansion of federal regional programs under the Great Society, and the rise of multi-jurisdictional planning models used by entities influenced by the Interstate Highway System and the Office of Management and Budget. Early collaboration occurred with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports through technical workshops and conferences paralleling activities of organizations such as the National League of Cities, the United States Conference of Mayors, and the American Planning Association. Over subsequent decades the association adapted to legislative milestones including amendments to the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, and programs administered by the Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency. It has convened forums alongside policy actors like the Joint Economic Committee, think tanks including The Heritage Foundation and Center for American Progress, and research centers at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University.

Mission and Programs

The association's mission emphasizes capacity building, regional infrastructure coordination, disaster resilience, and workforce development through programs that mirror federal grant priorities from agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Energy, and the Small Business Administration. Programmatic offerings often include training modeled on curricula from American Public Transportation Association seminars, technical assistance similar to that of the Economic Development Administration University Center network, and peer exchanges akin to initiatives run by ICLEI USA and the National Governors Association. It administers conferences, webinars, and publications that reference standards from organizations like the International City/County Management Association and data resources from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Membership and Structure

Membership comprises regional development organizations, councils of governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and rural development districts, comparable in scope to memberships held by the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations and the National Association of Counties. Governing structures include an executive board, regional vice presidents, and standing committees on transportation, rural development, and disaster recovery; leadership interacts with advisory bodies such as the Council of State Governments and the National Governors Association. The association partners with state offices like the California Governor's Office of Planning and Research, state development agencies, and university extension systems such as the Cooperative Extension System at land-grant universities.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding streams include membership dues, grants from federal entities such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce, contracts with the Federal Highway Administration, and philanthropic support from foundations like the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Kresge Foundation. The association has implemented cooperative agreements with research institutions including RAND Corporation, National Academy of Sciences, and regional laboratories within the Department of Energy complex. Public–private partnerships have connected the association to corporations and trade groups such as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and philanthropic intermediaries like The Clinton Foundation in targeted resilience and redevelopment initiatives.

Advocacy and Policy Activities

The association engages in federal advocacy before committees of the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and appropriations subcommittees, coordinating testimony with stakeholders including the American Planning Association, National League of Cities, and AARP. Policy work addresses competitive grant programs, formula funding, and regulatory matters overlapping with statutes like the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act and reauthorization measures; it files comments on rulemakings from agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation. The association also collaborates with coalitions that include the National Association of Counties, International Economic Development Council, and national workforce groups aligned with the U.S. Department of Labor.

Regional and Local Impact

At the regional level the association supports project delivery for transportation corridors, brownfield remediation, broadband deployment, and coastal resilience projects similar to initiatives seen in partnerships with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and state coastal commissions. Local outcomes involve workforce pipelines, small business support, and disaster recovery planning, implemented alongside actors such as Small Business Administration offices, state emergency management agencies, local transit authorities, and regional health departments. Case work has intersected with federal recovery programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, urban revitalization efforts modeled after Empowerment Zones, and cooperative regional strategies promoted by organizations like Enterprise Community Partners and Habitat for Humanity International.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States