Company Profile
National League of Cities
Company Overview
The National League of Cities was founded in 1924 and is the country’s oldest, largest and most representative organization serving municipal governments. The National League of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. Working in partnership with the 49 state municipal leagues, NLC serves as a resource to and an advocate for the more than 19,000 cities, villages and towns it represents. We currently have 82 employees dedicated to making cities better
Company History
The National League of Cities was founded in December 1924 by 10 state municipal leagues that saw the need for a national organization to strengthen local government. Established initially as the American Municipal Association, it was an organization comprised only of state municipal leagues, whose purpose was to collect and exchange information about urban affairs that would help state organizations promote approved methods of municipal government.
In 1947, the organization that began as an association of state municipal leagues opened its membership to individual cities with populations of 100,000 or more. That membership threshold was gradually moved downward, and in 1964, to signal the organization’s growing emphasis on cities as members, the American Municipal Association changed its name to the National League of Cities.
By 1977, city size was no longer an issue for NLC membership. Any city that was a member of its state municipal league could join the National League of Cities and participate directly as a voting member.
As the organization’s membership expanded, NLC activities have evolved and broadened to include a National Municipal Policy that guides the organization’s advocacy work in Washington, D.C. on behalf of hometown America. NLC training, education programs, and conferences help municipal officials cope with issues affecting local government and communities. A constant flow of information and publications keeps members apprised of federal regulations, solutions to problems, and challenges for the future.