Now Accepting Submissions for the 2020 County Government Best Practices Awards
Submission window: October 1 - November 6, 2020
The Institute for County Government (ICG) is now accepting nominations for the County Government Best Practices Awards Program. In it's second year, the awards program recognizes county leaders' efforts to create new, efficient and effective solutions to challenges facing local governments. These solutions include innovative programs, increased delivery of services and superior achievements in all areas of county operations.To submit you nomination online click here.
Click here to download a printable nomination form.
The County Government Best Practices Awards Program recognizes the efforts of county leadership in creating new, efficient and effective solutions to challenges facing local governments. These solutions include innovative programs, increased delivery of services and superior achievements in all areas of county operations. Examples include financial and general management, criminal justice and public safety, health and human services, technology, county resiliency (infrastructure, energy and sustainability), community improvements and other county-related responsibilities.
Goals of the County Government Best Practices Program
• Recognize counties for innovation.
• Inspire county leaders to develop improved programs.
• Create an avenue for promoting replicable and proven solutions to common county concerns.
2019 County Government Best Practices Awards Program Recipients
Alachua County
Emergency Operations Center Shelter Communication APP
To respond to the ever-changing needs of those in storm shelters, this application allows Alachua County staff to communicate and collaborate in real-time and to collect, aggregate and track the current population of shelters county-wide. This application utilized cutting-edge technology to allow access to anyone the Emergency Operations administrators designate, while restricting access to anyone else, and to enable offline use.St. Lucie County
Student Perks Coffee Cart
The Student Perks- Coffee Cart program provides a learning and meaningful work opportunity for local high school students with intellectual disabilities. The coffee cart program was launched as a community-based learning concept, receiving a NACo Achievement award. Today this program is used in multiple locations across the county, including within Port St. Lucie City Hall. To learn more, please click here.
Orange County
Recycling Quality Improvement Program
To improve the quality and quantity of recyclable waste, Orange County Utilities put feet on the street to tag carts and give curbside feedback to customers about recycling. The program proved effective with a decrease of “Oops!” and increase of “Good Job” tags. It also helped recycle more tons and earn a grant worth five times what was spent. To see the pilot program results, please click here. For more information on Orange County's recycling program, please click here.
Pasco County
Connected City: America's First Gigabit Community
Connected City is a 7,800 acre ten-year pilot project implementing advances in high technology in Pasco County under a public private partnership. It is America’s first Gigabit community built from the ground up that will have roads ready for driverless vehicles, multi-modal transportation options, incentive based flexible zoning to attract new high-tech company, an incremental approval process that significantly reduces construction costs, new funding for schools and startup companies, and credits for incorporating new gigabit technologies and solar power into the community. To learn more, click here.
Volusia County
Animal Abuse Database
With the goal of ensuring that pets are not placed in harms’ way, Volusia County’s Animal Services hosts an Animal Abuse Database on its Division website. The database includes information on individuals convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving animals. By protecting pets, Volusia County is protecting people. For more information, please click here.
Leon County
Development Support and Environment Management "Upgrade"
Responding to contemporary media coverage portraying local governments throughout the country as “unfriendly towards businesses,” Leon County acknowledged the need to address specific process improvements and perceptions in their Development Services and Environmental Management (DSEM) department and conducted a comprehensive “upgrade” of the department in 2017. Leon County’s DSEM upgrade represents the County’s commitment as a listening and learning organization continuously in search of better meeting the needs of their customers by providing value-added support in the form of staff expertise, technical resources, and customer assistance to aid the development community in realizing the highest quality development potential. To learn more, click here.
Osceola County
Senses Park
Working with specialists and community partners, Osceola County designed and built a park to be all inclusive – welcoming, safe, and entertaining for all children. The innovative, all-inclusive park caters to children on the autism spectrum by providing play areas that take into account their unique perceptions and sensory issues, and it is accessible to children with physical disabilities as well. For more information, please click here.