CSG South

Lunch & Learn: Message Development and Media Training
2024-12-13 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)

Executive Virtual Committee Meeting
2024-12-19 10:00 - 11:00

CSG South Office Closed
2024-12-23 - 2025-01-01

Happy Birthday Texas!
2024-12-29

Texas State Visit
2025-01-28 - 2025-01-29

CSG South Committee Appointments Due
2025-01-31

SLC 2025 - Last Day to Register with Discounted Rates
2025-05-01

CSG National - Toll Fellowship Application Due
2025-05-01

State Transformation in Action Recognition (STAR) Application Due
2025-05-16

Upcoming Webinar: Rooted in Resilience
2025-05-22 11:30 - 12:30
Mental illness affects nearly 1 in 5 adults in rural America—yet limited broadband, provider shortages, and stigma often stand between residents and the support they need.
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, CSG South, in partnership with the State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED), invites you to an upcoming webinar:
Rooted in Resilience: Strengthening Workforce Mental Health Supports in Rural Communities — Thursday, May 22 | 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM (ET)
This one-hour panel discussion will examine Southern states’ mental health policy landscape, highlighting how lawmakers are working to expand access and strengthen rural workforce supports. Expert panelists will offer insights tailored to legislative staff and state officials seeking actionable, forward-thinking strategies.
Register now to reserve your spot and explore how your state can strengthen rural resilience through targeted mental health policy.

SLC 2025 - Last Day to Register Online
2025-06-27

SLC 2025 In Birmingham, Alabama
2025-07-19 - 2025-07-23

Chiefs 15X Leadership Retreat
2025-08-25 - 2025-08-28

From Lesson Plans to Building Plans: Addressing the School Workforce Shortage Through Housing
2025-09-09 - 2025-09-11 | Bentonville, Arkansas, United States
While significant progress has been made in recent years to increase teacher salaries or incentivize other school staff benefits, the lack of affordable housing – particularly in high-cost urban/suburban and scarce rural areas – often means that even with a sizeable raise, educators and staff cannot afford to live near their district. State leaders can look to Arkansas, where the Bentonville School District in Northwest Arkansas – home to Walmart – partnered with philanthropic groups and developers to create a plan for affordable housing to attract much-needed teachers. With the support of Senate and House lawmakers, the question was sent to the State Attorney General’s Office to confirm its legality before beginning construction. In September 2023, the State Attorney General approved the school district’s innovative public-private-philanthropic partnership to develop affordable housing for the district’s educators and workforce. Participants will visit these school district housing projects and attend briefings regarding the partnerships necessary for this process.
Submit an interest form today!

What’s the Buzz from the Beehive State? Smart Growth Strategies from Outside the South
2025-09-23 - 2025-09-26 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Between 2010 and 2020, Utah was the fastest-growing state in the United States. Post-COVID, the Sunbelt States – particularly those within the CSG South region – have seen widespread population booms that bring much potential and pitfalls for state policymakers to consider. Whether addressing land use and zoning, water use and conservation, building safety codes, or other smart growth policies, state leaders in the South have much to consider. As such, CSG South policymakers may find it helpful to look outside the region and explore the strategic statewide plan in the Beehive State, which features a coalition of state government, private sector, educational, nonprofit, conservation, and other organizations that are on the same pathway to growth that benefits Utahns while protecting water supplies and expanding statewide transportation infrastructure. Several states in the South have raised concerns or sought to address the issues of unchecked growth, such as Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Virginia, on issues as diverse as zoning reforms, rural land use protections, home hardening, and energy efficiency incentives, and transportation reforms. States like Oklahoma also run a similar risk of water shortages that Envision Utah and the Utah Growth Commission and Land Use Institute are addressing. Participants in this masterclass will explore the common challenges and potential solutions shared with Utahns as they both benefit from and face new pitfalls due to rapid growth.
Submit an interest form today!

Snares, Surprises, and Successes: Learning from Germany’s Experience with Renewables
2025-10-13 - 2025-10-17 | Germany, Germany
Renewable energies are no longer in their infancy. Southern states like Texas and Oklahoma are top producers of wind. More than half of commercial-scale solar facilities are in the South. Even with changing federal policies on renewable energy, private companies are still clamoring for renewable energy, and the sector is expected to triple by 2032. Southern states can, therefore, position themselves to reap the rewards of the booming industry. Understanding other countries’ experiences with renewables – both the good and the bad – can help Southern states avoid potential pitfalls. This CSG South Policy Masterclass will look at Germany’s experience with renewable energy and explore the country’s lessons learned, successful policies, and plans for the future. Presented in partnership with adelphia.

Submit an interest form today!

CALS 2025
2025-10-19 - 2025-10-23
The Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS) is for current elected or appointed members of state legislatures and judicial and executive branches. The five-day workshop event takes selected CALS scholars through activities and instruction focusing on the program’s four central components—communication, conflict resolution, consensus building, and critical decision making. It’s a must-do for any state professional looking to reinforce and refine these crucial skills.
Completion of the program ultimately helps provide the public with highly-skilled, educated, and confident state leaders.
Want to be a part of the CALS Class of 2025? Learn more and apply!

SAGE 2025
2025-11-16 - 2025-11-20
The Staff Academy for Governmental Excellence (SAGE) is a professional leadership development program for Southern state legislative, judicial, executive and agency staff. In addition to developing their personal and professional leadership skills, participants can build a network of peers from across the Southern region. By shaping staff leaders, SAGE ultimately aims to provide the public with more effective state governments.
The Council of State Governments Southern Office (CSG South) and the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) have a long history of providing exemplary leadership training opportunities for state elected and appointed officials, primarily through The Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS), inaugurated in 2007. Building upon the success of CALS and recognizing a need and desire for leadership development for state government staff, CSG South was proud to launch SAGE in Fall 2020.

Want to be a part of the SAGE Class of 2025? Learn more and apply!

Happy Birthday, Oklahoma!
2025-11-16

Happy Birthday, North Carolina!
2025-11-21

Webinar: "What's Coming Down" for States: Fiscal and Program Impacts
2025-12-08 12:00 - 13:00
Presented by SAIL, a program of CSG South.
Register now!

CSG National Conference in Chicago
2025-12-09 - 2025-12-13

Happy Birthday, Mississippi!
2025-12-10

Happy Birthday, Alabama!
2025-12-14

Happy Birthday, Texas!
2025-12-29

Happy Birthday Georgia!
2026-01-02

STAR Application Opens
2026-01-05

CALS Application Opens
2026-01-05

SAGE Application Opens
2026-01-05

Policy Masterclass Interest Form Opens
2026-01-09
