National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)

The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) supports Regional Development Organizations (RDO), a national network of 540 multi-jurisdictional regional planning and development organizations. These are public entities that foster intergovernmental collaboration between federal, state, and local officials and support competitive and sustainable communities. In the climate change space, NADO has provided research, training, and technical assistance to support regional action to address resilience. 

RDOs are most often authorized and recognized under state law or executive order and have many different names, including area development districts, association of governments, councils of governments, economic development associations, economic development corporations,  local development districts, planning and development districts, regional commissions, regional councils, and regional development commissions.

NADO operates through a number of affiliate programs and partnerships, including: 

• NADO Research Foundation is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of NADO. The Research Foundation provides professional development training, research and peer networking services. The Research Foundation examines new and innovative practices in regional development, strives to improve the organizational and professional capacity of regional development organizations and their partners, and bridges the communications gaps between policy makers, practitioners, and the public.
• Economic Development Finance Service (EDFS) is a subscription-based service of the NADO Research Foundation for business development finance professionals. 
• Rural Planning Organizations of America (RPO America) was established in June 2006 by the NADO Board of Directors to serve as the national professional association for regional and rural transportation planning professionals, practitioners and other interested stakeholders.
• NADO’s Center for Transportation Advancement and Regional Development, under a cooperative agreement with the Federal Highway Administration, provides training, information and professional resources for small metropolitan and rural regions to pursue innovative strategies to expand the capabilities, capacity and effectiveness of a region’s transportation network.

Phone: 202-624-7806

Sectors:

• Land use and built environment
• Rural
• Small communities

Related Resources:

• Building Economic Resilience in the Kerr-Tarr Region (North Carolina): Recommendations for Linking Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies and Hazard Mitigation Plans
• NADO Resilient Regions report
• Planning for a More Resilient Future: A Guide to Regional Approaches