National League of Cities

The National League of Cities (NLC) is an American advocacy organization representing 19,000 cities, towns, and villages, and encompassing 49 state municipal leagues.

NLC provides training to municipal officials, holds conferences, lobbies and provides assistance to cities in educational issues.

NLC is made up of six Centers: Research and Innovation; Federal Relations; Public Affairs and Member Relations; Enterprise Programs; Conferences, Education and Training; and the Institute for Youth, Education and Families.

The NLC was founded in 1926 when 10 state municipal leagues banded as the American Municipal Association. At this time, 37 state leagues existed, although only 21 were considered active. Over time, the organization's membership expanded to include individual cities of all sizes.

It was at a 1970 convention of the National League of Cities that William Ruckelshaus, Administrator of the newly created Environmental Protection Agency, announced an order against Cleveland, Detroit, and Atlanta to clean up their inadequately treated sewage discharges into rivers, thereby helping send a message that the young agency meant business.

The current president of the NLC is Ted L. Ellis, mayor of Bluffton, Indiana.

Past presidents of the NLC have included:

NLC lobbies Congress on multiple issues, including city infrastructure, particularly transportation; supporting local energy efficiency and conservation efforts; strengthening and stabilizing the housing market; helping build stable families; supporting community safety; and reforming the country’s immigration system. NLC’s core lobbying principles include avoiding unfunded mandates, preserving local authority and protecting the intergovernmental partnership.

The Institute for Youth, Education, and Families is an entity within NLC which assists municipal officials in providing services on behalf of the children, youth and families in their communities. The YEF Institute offers resources in five core program areas, including early childhood success, education and afterschool, benefits for working families, youth participation in local government and child and youth safety.

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