State governments maintain a wide range of partnerships to foster cultural ties, learn from international counterparts, and advance other interests. CSG conducts a network of programs designed to support and encourage mutually beneficial partnerships between state governments and international counterparts.

Matching Grants

Since 1994, CSG has fostered mutually beneficial partnerships between U.S. state governments and Asian counterparts through the State Environmental Initiative. The program awards matching grants to state universities, state environmental agencies, state commerce departments, and other state entities to link American expertise in environmental management, policy, and technology with Asian demand for environmental improvements. The SEI program includes two types of matching grants: Environmental Partnership Grants of up to $150,000 awarded on an annual basis for long-term partnerships and Immediate Response Grants of up to $25,000 awarded on a rolling cycle throughout the year for trade missions, market research, exchanges, and other short-term projects.

International Partners Program

A unique networking opportunity for provinces and other sub-national governments from around the world, this program allows sub-national government bodies to formally join CSG and participate as voting members of The Council's International Committee. By joining CSG as International Partners, government officials from other countries have access to CSG's research, publications, meetings and services, and can gain valuable insights into policy activities in the United States. The program also establishes a forum for the discussion of policy issues of global importance and the sharing of innovative ideas across national borders. CSG's current International Partners include the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario and the Province of Taiwan. For more information on this program, see the International Program Brochure.

Leadership Delegations

CSG organizes periodic delegations through its regional offices to offer senior state leaders an opportunity to learn about emerging international issues and to meet their counterparts in other countries. These delegations also expose state leaders from across the nation to particularly innovative state partnerships and programs.

Visitor Programs

CSG hosts frequent delegations of government leaders from around the world to expose them to programs, policies and institutions of American state government, and to promote mutually beneficial dialogue. These visitor programs include both short visits by groups sponsored by other organizations and longer exchanges organized directly by CSG.

Meetings, Seminars and Fellowship Programs

During CSG's Spring and Annual meetings, The Council's International Committee hosts discussions and seminars on important emerging international issues of interest to state governments. CSG's regional meetings also regularly include sessions on international topics. In addition, CSG works with a number of partner organizations to facilitate the participation of state leaders in additional workshops, seminars, and fellowship programs in international affairs. These programs include the annual Governing in the Global Age leadership seminar of The Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, the American Marshall Memorial Fellowship Program of the German Marshall Fund of the U.S., as well as programs organized by the Japan Local Government Center, the Forum of Federations in Canada, and the Parliamentary Conference of the Americas (COPA).