Cities Are Essential Resources
Current Tools, Actions, and Resources
Municipalities will use federal funds to facilitate a reopening of the national economy. Data is crucial to helping tell the story of how America’s cities, towns, and villages have been impacted by COVID-19. Below, find essential resources on the fiscal and social impact of coronavirus on communities. We need a united national partnership to get Americans back to a safe, healthy, prosperous life.
Latest Resources
View the latest NLC resources and tools for the Cities Are Essential campaign.
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COVID Relief Now - December 2020 Data
NLC Member Survey Data - November 2020
71% of cities, towns and villages believe their government’s condition will worsen if Congress does not pass another stimulus
NLC Member Survey Data Infographic - November 2020
NLC released new survey data that quantifies the pandemic’s impact on America’s cities, towns and villages.
CAE Local Impact Survey One Pager
Our national economic
recovery is at risk. Cities are experiencing cuts that drastically impact not only the people who live and work in these communities, but also the infrastructure and essential services that are critical to our national economic recovery.
CAE Local Impacts Survey Infographic
A NEW SURVEY OF 1,100 MUNICIPALITIES from across America shows that our nation’s economic recovery is
at risk of stalling if Congress fails to provide direct federal aid to cities, towns, and villages.
What Covid-19 Means For City Finances Report
City governments across the nation provide essential
services that keep our economy and neighborhoods strong.
City Projected Revenue Shortfall
Without support for local governments, municipalities may move from being part of the economic solution, to becoming a major obstacle to long-term stabilization and recovery.
America's Cities Need Aid Now
America’s cities, towns and villages need aid now. View and share our roadmap infographic, as we seek a federal partner to help communities rebuild and recover.
Cities Are Essential Myths Truth
Cities are the engine of the American economy, and if we want to recover and reopen as a nation, we need to get the engine running.
Letter to the Editor and Op-Ed Guidelines
Your voice is critical! NLC has put together guidelines, messaging and resources to help you craft an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor.
Cities Are Essential Op-Eds and LTEs – To Date (September 22)
- The Voice – Port Huron trims staff with voluntary furloughs, other measures
- Detroit Free Press – Expect city governments to shrink thanks to COVID-19
- Courier Journal – Louisville will be forced to make horrific cuts if Congress doesn’t provide money
- Syracuse – Ben Walsh pens letter to Pelosi, McConnell: Syracuse needs your help
- Caller Times – Texas mayors unite in call for more federal assistance to fund city services
- The Bangor Daily News – Congress helped private businesses. Now it’s time to help state and local governments.
- Washington State Wire – Washington cities need the other Washington to step up and partner to save lives and the economy
- Daily Journal – Voice of the People: Cities need federal help to meet COVID–19 challenge
- Nevada Independent – Nevada Cities Need Federal Aid
- Star Tribune – Cities, towns must not be left out of emergency relief.
- Washington Times- Cities, towns in desperate need
- CT Post – State must do better on sharing relief funds with town
- Richmond Times – Sean Polster column: Localities need direct federal relief now
- Omaha – Editorial: Douglas County has a crucial obligation to reimburse Omaha’s virus costs
- MLive – Michigan’s local governments battling coronavirus need direct federal assistance (opinion)
- The New York Times – Scott Walker’s ‘Reckless Agenda’ on Federal Aid
- Reflector – Cities, towns need help to drive recovery
- The Hill – Support for cities is essential to the national economic recovery
- Charlotte Observer – NC cities and towns are facing a money crisis. Will GOP leaders in Congress help?
- The Washington Examiner – The conservative case for aid to US cities
- Greensboro – Jay Donecke, Neville Hall and David Myers: For recovery tomorrow, cities need help today
- Seattle Times – The federal government must step up and support cities
- The Hill – How will American cities avoid economic catastrophe?
- Baton Rouge Advocate – Letters: Congress must act to help local governments meet budgets, gain prosperity
- WRAL Tech Wire – Guest opinion: Responding to COVID-19 economics, local governments must protect residents and small businesses
- Centre Daily Times: State College mayor: Direct aid to local government must be part of any new emergency assistance package
- Denver Post: Perlmutter and Kulmann: Colorado needs robust federal coronavirus help that the U.S. Senate is refusing
- CNN: If state and local governments continue to struggle, so will America
- Salisbury Post: My turn, Karen Alexander: Cities need resources to lead
- Colorado Politics: Cities, counties need a lifeline in COVID’s wake
- The Hill: Congress must deliver aid and empower localities to continue assisting in COVID-19 response
- Star Tribune: Local governments around Minnesota need federal help in this continuing crisis
- Wall Street Journal – Opinion | Congress Must Help Our Local Governments
CitiesSpeak Blog
Local governments are doing what we do best – caring for our residents. Hear directly from local leaders and experts about our need for a federal partner and direct economic relief to fully respond to, recover from and reopen after COVID-19.
NLC Resources
Get the tools and resources needed to ensure cities, towns and villages – urban or rural, of all sizes – are well equipped to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.