NSDC reflects on 2024 and reinvigorates as NSDA for 2025
As 2024 came to a close, the National Special District Coalition (NSDC) celebrated a year of remarkable progress and growth. From launching the National Special District Association (NSDA) to achieving significant federal advocacy milestones, 2024 has been a transformative year. Together, we’ve made great strides in amplifying the voice of Special Purpose Districts (SPDs), and there’s much to look forward to in 2025.
Organizational Development
2024 was a pivotal year for NSDC’s growth:
- NSDA Launch: We proudly launched the National Special District Association dedicated to representing the interests of special districts across the country.
- Refined Mission & Vision: “Simplify to Amplify,” our mission focuses on advocacy, education, and resources.
- Branding & Website Refresh: We unveiled a new logo and website to better engage with members and stakeholders. Thank you Streamline!
- Solidified our Team: We strengthened our efforts by hiring a National Director of Public Affairs and continued to work with Paragon and The Ferguson Group to enhance advocacy and outreach
- Four Corners Newsletter: We prepared our first NSDA newsletter to keep members informed about key initiatives and events.
Federal Advocacy – Key Legislative Wins with Paragon
NSDC made significant progress in advancing policies that support special districts at the federal level:
- Special Districts Recognition Act: We successfully advanced this campaign, gathering over 25,000 supporters and raising awareness of the importance of special districts.
- Key Legislative Advocacy: NSDC supported several critical initiatives:
- Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 8790)
- OSHA Emergency Response Rules
- Financial Data Transparency Act (FDTA)
- Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act
- Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act (S. 3071/H.R. 7671)
Communications & Marketing – Amplifying Our Message
- Social Media Expansion: Our social media engagement grew by over 2,371%, showing that our messaging resonates with a broad audience.
- Website Traffic Surge: Website traffic increased by 1,500%, confirming the effectiveness of our outreach efforts.
- DMTD Campaign: The Districts Make the Difference (DMTD) campaign reached 6.6m impressions, up from 2.5 million, with more than 200,000 “likes”, highlighting the importance of communicating our value.
- Student Video Contest: The contest reached students 20 states promoting youth engagement in local governance.
Grants and Funding - Wins with The Ferguson Group
· Over the last quarter of 2024, TFG saw an over 200% increase in activity from districts interested in the NSDC Grant Program and the services available to help find federal resources for priorities. Services provided to districts included personal consultations where TFG grant experts provided curated advice and counsel to districts on available funding.
· For California, the number of districts utilizing the NSDC resource has more than doubled since September with the majority of inquiries related to projects for emergency services, fire suppression, water supply, and wastewater. The interest from California special districts aligns with the recent announcement of grant funding awards for programs addressing these issues including FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighter Grants and the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART grant programs that recently awarded California special districts millions of dollars in grant funding.
· To help districts prepare for upcoming grant opportunities, NSDC hosted the final webinar in the 2024 series, “Follow the Money: Where grant funding went, where it’s going, and how to bring it home” in October. Learn more and access NSDC Grant Program resources at Grant Services - National Special Districts Coalition.
Membership Growth
NSDA’s efforts in expanding membership were highly successful:
- Membership Growth: We now represent over 8,000 members, and membership continues to grow steadily, including increasing our Trial Memberships by 20%.
- Texas Roadshow Success: The “Get ‘R Done” Roadshow in Texas brought new districts into NSDA, marking a key milestone in our outreach.
- Partnerships: We forged valuable partnerships with organizations like ICMA and NACO, strengthening our advocacy efforts.
Looking Ahead to 2025
NSDA’s goals for 2025 focus on advancing the interests of special districts:
- NSDA will officially launch!
- Special District Grant Accessibility Act (SDGAA): We will continue advocating for federal recognition of special districts to unlock new funding opportunities.
- Infrastructure & Cybersecurity: We will push for policies that strengthen infrastructure and enhance cybersecurity resilience.
- Disaster Resilience: We’ll advocate for policies to improve disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience.
- Federal Funding Opportunities: NSDA will ensure special districts have greater access to federal funds and continue advocating for reauthorization of critical programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
2025 Meetings and Events
- Board and Committee Meetings: We will hold important meetings throughout the year, offering members a chance to shape NSDA’s future.
Thank You for an Incredible 2024 and Onward to an impactful 2025!
As we conclude this outstanding year, we express our deepest thanks to every member, partner, and supporter. Your dedication has been integral to our success. With your continued engagement, we look forward to achieving even more in 2025, advancing the interests of special districts and securing a prosperous future for the communities we serve.