Registration for the 2020 ACCG Capitol Connection Conference is now open. Join ACCG and county commissioners throughout the state for this two-day conference to stay abreast of legislation affecting local governments, gain an indepth understanding of ACCG's role during the session and to connect with your state delegation. Remember to invite your state legislator(s) to join you on Thursday, February 27 for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. or the ACCG reception at 5:00 p.m. 

Don't miss out on the chance to showcase the outstanding leaders within your community! Nominate someone deserving for a 2020 ACCG Award. The ACCG Awards & Recognition Program serves as a way to recognize the individuals who provide outstanding contributions to their local community. The deadline to submit your nominations is Friday, March 6, 2020. 

Is your county doing all that it should to prevent injuries from occuring in the workplace? Find out why its essential to create a safety culture to reduce the likelihood of accidents and save the county money.

The spotlight is shining bright on University of West Georgia student, Julissa Melendez and her internship with the Carroll County Public Defender’s Office. Read more to learn about her experience and what advice she has for others seeking internships.

In partnership with Georgia Trend, ACCG wants to honor county programs and initiatives for their efforts to make positive impacts on their communities. The deadline to submit a nomination for the 2020 Georgia County Excellence Awards is this Friday, February 7. 

Spring time is near! Celebrate the start of Spring by joining your fellow county officials at the upcoming Spring LLA training on March 21- 22 in Tifton / Tift County. Classes are filling up, so hurry and contact your county clerk to get registered TODAY! 

Meet our spring interns- Ted Davis, Chase Sherrod and Kathleen Taylor. These students will assist the policy and research staffs and legal team with special projects, bill analysis, legislative and legal research, and legislative tracking during the 2020 legislative session. 

There are numerous marketing and outreach tools that are available to LCCCs, many of which are Georgia specific, to help educate communities about the importance of the 2020 Census and why they should participate. 

During the 2019 legislative session, HB 315 was passed. The bill requires consultants who help draft local governments' bid, proposal, procurement or purchasing specifications to disclose any conflict of interest.

In the 2019 regular session, the Georgia Legislature passed HB316 and approved bond funding of up to $150 million to provide for a new verifiable paper ballot Statewide Voting System (SVS) for all counties in the state. Also, in 2018, Georgia received funds from the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), some of which Secretary Raffensperger has authorized for direct grants to counties. These grants will be for the purpose of bolstering cyber and physical election systems security, making polling places and voting more accessible, and providing for general purposes of implementing the new SVS.

On February 19-20, USDA is hosting a two-day workshop in Atlanta to provide attendees with an understanding of USDA's ReConnect program and application requirements. Attendees will hear from several subject matter experts including Joyce White, State Director for USDA Rural Development in Georgia. 

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is seeking applicants for the 2020 NACo Achievement Awards and the Healthies Counties Challenge. The 2020 NACo Achievement Awards seek to recognize outstanding county government programs and services, whereas the Healthiest Counties Challenge will provide funding and non-financial support to select communities to address local health challenges. Click to learn more about each program. 

The Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) is now accepting applications for the Certified Government Chief Information Officer™ (CGCIO™) program. The program focuses on emerging technologies, information security, ethics, contract management, interpersonal communication, project and resource management, and sustainability, among other related topics. Classes begin in August.

ACCG has introduced a new tool to help counties tell their stories! The Georgia County Spotlight will allow counties to share with ACCG, and other counties throughout the state, what great things are taking place in their communities. Visit the County Spotlight page by clicking "Read More." Once on the page, share your news by clicking the "Submit Your News Here" button in the top right corner.