Leon County Recognized As Nationwide Leader in Governance

Leon County Recognized As Nationwide Leader in Governance

Six Year Total Over 50 National Awards for Excellence in Public Service

This year, Leon County received 10 awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for exceptional county programs and services, bringing the total of awards to 56 since 2013 including several “Best in Category” and NACo’s list of “100 Brilliant Ideas”. Annually, NACo identifies county government best practices from across the nation. In categories ranging from Personnel Management, Employment and Training to County Resiliency: Infrastructure, Energy and Sustainability, Leon County continues to be a benchmark for local governments everywhere.

“We are so proud to see our local County services and programs continue to receive national recognition as benchmarks for effectiveness and innovation,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Nick Maddox. “Our citizens can be proud of the many County programs that touch their lives every day.”

Many of the NACo awards highlight programs, services and initiatives that advance county government and enhance services to citizens. Leon County awarded projects this year reflect a continued commitment to listening to the needs of citizens, employee innovations and cost savings and engaging citizens as co-creators of the community for future generations.

“Our now more than fifty national awards recognize talented and innovative County employees who engage citizens on the challenges and opportunities that face our community,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. “Earning distinguished national awards like these speak to our organizational culture and our commitment to public service and excellence."

In 2018, Leon County Government received the following awards for exceptional programs and services:

• 100% Employee Training in Customer Experience; Diversity; and Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, and Stalking in the Workplace in the category of Personnel Management, Employment, and Training

• Leon County Citizens Connect Mobile App in the category of Civic Education and Public Information

• HeartMath: Resilience Advantage Program for County Employees in the category of Health

• I-Squared Employee Awards Program in the category of County Administration and Management

• Leon Works Junior Apprenticeship Program in the category of Community and Economic Development

• Leon County Library Lecture Series in the category of Libraries

• Creation of the Office of Community Relations and Resilience in the category of Risk and Emergency Management

• Office of Economic Vitality – A New Economic Development Ecosystem in the category of Community and Economic Development

• “ReNew” Campaign for Household Hazardous Waste Collection in the category of Civic Education and Public Information

• Sidewalk Prioritization and Funding Policy in the category of County Resiliency: Infrastructure, Energy, and Sustainability

These national awards not only recognize quality services, but highlight the successes of Leon County Government and its commitment to providing exceptional service to citizens. Leon County has managed to reduce its budget while at the same time exceeding expectations with key infrastructure projects and citizen engagement. Leon County remains committed to strengthening what works, receiving citizen feedback, leveraging partnerships and listening to changing needs.

Founded in 1970, the annual NACo Achievement Award Program is an award series that recognizes innovative county government programs that increase services to county residents. Leon County will be recognized at NACo’s 83rd Annual Conference in July in Nashville, Tennessee.

For more information, contact Andrew Johnson, Assistant to the County Administrator, at (850) 606-5300 / JohnsonAn@LeonCountyFL.gov or Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations at (850) 606-5300 / cmr@LeonCountyFL.gov .