State Associations Resource Page

Statewide associations play an important role in strengthening the organizational capacity of the nation’s regional councils and regional development organizations. This page contains information about state associations, samples of statewide impact reports and other resource materials.

State Associations of Regional Councils and Regional Development Organizations: Insights into Organizational Structures, Governance Models and Strategic Initiatives

This comprehensive report examines the organizational structures, governance models and strategic initiatives of state associations and networks of regional councils of government and regional development organizations.

View Report

Released February 2005, 50 pages

Organizational Toolkit for State Associations of Regional Councils

The Iowa Association of Regional Councils (IARC) published the Organizational Toolkit for State Associations of Regional Councils. This Publication was supported by EDA’s Denver Regional Office (grant # 05-06-051); IARC partnered with NADO to provide the toolkit content.

This toolkit provides many resources for state associations, including a series of “spotlights” about projects and programs undertaken by state associations on behalf of their members, samples of governing documents, job descriptions, profiles of each existing association that includes contact information, overview of state associations across the nation, and key contact information for readers to make direct connections with individual state associations to learn more. In addition to sharing basic information about state association structure, governance, and funding, the toolkit is also intended to illustrate the diversity among state associations in terms of scope of work and purpose.

The toolkit also includes a State Association Self-Assessment, designed to help evaluate your state association’s unique roles, functions, and strengths within your state.

State Association Impact Reports

Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts: Regional Strategies, Solutions and Partnerships

This report examines how area development districts, comprising Kentucky’s statewide network of 15 multi-jurisdictional entities covering 120 counties, partner to cultivate regional collaboration and local partnerships resulting in a stronger, more economically viable region. (March 2009, 24 pages) View report / Power Point

New Mexico Association of Regional Councils: Partnerships, Progress and Promise

The National Association of Development Organizations assisted the New Mexico Association of Regional Councils with the development of this impact report. The report, first published in January 2007 and updated in January 2009, profiles the statewide impact of the numerous programs and projects that the association’s member organizations have developed and implemented. It also highlights the many partnerships forged between the councils and local and state government to provide valuable services to the surrounding communities. It gives detailed examples of specific projects and their impacts as well as a list of programs and services that the seven New Mexico regional councils offer to their region. (January 2009, 26 pages) View Report / Powerpoint

Oregon’s Economic Development Districts: Creating Opportunities for Regional Prosperity

This report showcases the work of the 11 Economic Development Districts in Oregon, and how they partner with or provide services to the state’s 36 counties, local and tribal governments to ensure that the many needs of Oregon’s residents, businesses and local governments are met. (March 2009, 20 pages): View report

Utah’s Association of Governments: Regional Collaborations, Solutions and Strategies

This report showcases how the seven Associations of Governments in Utah have brought economic opportunities to the state by cultivating key collaborations that extend beyond jurisdictional boundaries, promoting intergovernmental and public-private partnerships and designing and implementing comprehensive regional development strategies that position their regions and communities for the future. (November 2009, 14 pages) View report