National Association of Towns and Townships
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| National Association of Towns and Townships | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Association of Towns and Townships |
| Formation | 1976 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Status | Association |
| Region served | United States |
National Association of Towns and Townships is a U.S.-based association that served small municipal jurisdictions and local elected officials. Founded to represent the interests of townships, towns, and similar municipal entities, the association engaged with legislative bodies, state associations, and national organizations to influence policy affecting local jurisdictions. It operated in coordination with state-level associations, municipal leagues, and federal agencies to provide resources and advocacy for local officials.
History
The organization was established in the 1970s alongside contemporaneous groups such as National League of Cities, United States Conference of Mayors, International City/County Management Association, National Association of Counties, and American Planning Association to address the needs of smaller municipal units. In its early decades the association worked with state affiliates like the New York State Association of Towns, Ohio Township Association, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, and Michigan Townships Association, and engaged with federal entities including the United States Congress, United States Department of Agriculture, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Environmental Protection Agency on rural infrastructure and land use issues. Leaders who interacted with the association included members of the United States House of Representatives, United States Senate, and staff from committees such as the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Over time the association partnered with organizations like National Association of Counties and American Public Works Association on intergovernmental initiatives and responded to legislative developments such as the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and debates over Welfare Reform Act implementations at local levels.
Mission and Objectives
The association's stated mission emphasized serving elected officials of towns and townships by promoting fiscal tools, infrastructure investment, and regulatory flexibility in coordination with entities like Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Census Bureau, and Department of Transportation. Objectives included preserving local decision-making traditions shared with groups such as Liberty League, supporting grant access coordinated with Economic Development Administration, and advancing policies debated in venues like the United States Supreme Court and state supreme courts. The organization framed objectives in terms of intergovernmental cooperation with institutions including Congressional Research Service, Government Accountability Office, National Governors Association, and National Conference of State Legislatures.
Membership and Governance
Membership comprised elected officials from town boards, township trustees, and select boards, with affiliate relationships to state-level organizations such as the Illinois Township Association, California State Association of Counties, Texas Association of Counties, and Vermont League of Cities and Towns. Governance structures mirrored nonprofit conventions used by American Bar Association and National Education Association, with an elected board of directors, an executive director, and committees modeled after practices found in the National Association of Counties and National League of Cities. Annual meetings and bylaws adhered to standards similar to those of the Internal Revenue Service for 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities, while ethics and transparency practices reflected norms promoted by the Sunshine Laws and state public records statutes.
Programs and Services
The association provided training, technical assistance, and risk-management resources drawing on partnerships with organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association, Association of State Floodplain Managers, American Society of Civil Engineers, and Institute of Transportation Engineers. Programs included workshops modeled on curricula from the Local Government Commission, grant-writing assistance linked to the Community Development Block Grant program, and insurance pools patterned after offerings by the National League of Cities Service Corporation. Technical publications and model ordinances were developed in consultation with the American Planning Association and the Urban Land Institute, and emergency management coordination involved collaboration with the National Emergency Management Association and the Federal Communications Commission.
Advocacy and Policy Positions
Advocacy efforts targeted federal and state policy arenas including the United States Congress, state legislatures, and administrative agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation. The association took policy positions on infrastructure funding related to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, on property tax matters resonant with debates in California Proposition 13 contexts, and on natural resource issues overlapping with Endangered Species Act implementation at local levels. It joined coalitions with organizations like the National Association of Counties, American Farm Bureau Federation, and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association on rural broadband, water, and road funding, and submitted testimony to committees such as the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Conferences and Publications
Annual conferences brought together officials, staff, and allied organizations including National League of Cities, United States Conference of Mayors, American Planning Association, and state municipal leagues for sessions on budgeting, public works, and land use. Publications included newsletters, policy briefs, and model codes with contributions from experts associated with American Society of Civil Engineers, Urban Institute, Brookings Institution, and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Educational resources referenced federal data from the United States Census Bureau, technical guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency, and funding notices from the Economic Development Administration to support local planning and fiscal management.