RICHMOND (August 29, 2024)—The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) is pleased to announce the 45 recipients of the 2024 Achievement Awards, which recognize excellence in local government programs. VACo received 145 submissions.
Winning entries focused on addressing issues of housing, recreation, and communications, as well as finding solutions to other challenges that counties face daily.
Winning Achievement Award Submissions
2024 Achievement Awards Entries
“Thank you to all who participated in the 22nd year of the Achievement Awards,” VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch said. “Last year we received 135 submissions, which was then our highest total ever. This year 145 entries were submitted. The program continues to grow because our member counties continue to do innovative work and find solutions to problems. The VACo Achievement Awards is a celebration of the hard work, good decision making, and problem-solving skills of county staffs and leadership.”
This year’s judges were Charles Hartgrove, ICMA-CM, Managing Director of the Virginia Institute of Government; Dr. Sheryl Bailey, Visiting Professor of Practice at Virginia Tech, and former Chesterfield County Deputy County Administrator; and Canova Peterson, former Hanover County Supervisor.
Smyth County and its Smyth Grow program won this year’s Best Achievement Award.
“Housing is currently a big issue in counties, and Smyth County has found a way to build 100 new homes for its workforce,” Dr. Bailey said. “Beyond the revenues and social impact of 100 new homes, the program promises to stimulate economic growth by attracting new residents, bolstering local tax revenues, and supporting long-term community stability. The program also hopes to create a ripple effect of positive socioeconomic impacts, including enhanced educational opportunities, increased business retention, and improved quality of life for residents.”
The judges also selected a Best Small County Achievement Award (50,000 or less population) and a Best Large County Achievement Award. Floyd County and its Floyd County Scattered Site Housing Rehab program captured the Best Small County Achievement Award while Montgomery County and its Sensory Museum program earned the Best Large County Achievement Award.
Hartgrove said Floyd County’s winning program reflects an important criterion for the VACo Achievement Awards – collaboration. “Floyd County also tackled its housing challenge with an innovative program to rehab houses through broad collaboration,” Hartgrove said. “What started as volunteers doing urgent repairs on the weekend for neighbors has grown into 10 organizations coordinating and contributing to home improvements around Floyd County. This is a replicable path in any rural county that is dedicated to improving housing.”
Peterson praised Montgomery County for its unique program to help teens and adults with disabilities. “One positive takeaway from this program is that parents and caregivers often inquire about the materials used in the museum so they can replicate some of the tools in their homes after learning about the benefits of sensory play,” Peterson said. “Montgomery County was able to make a direct and positive impact on an often-overlooked group of people.”
Chesterfield County tops the all-time Achievement Awards list with 54. Chesterfield County has won an award in each year of the 22-year history of the program. Henrico County is second on the list with 46 Achievement Awards while Loudoun County is third with 31.
The VACo Achievement Awards is a competitive program open to local government members of the association.
Winning Achievement Award Submissions | Winning Program Descriptions | Achievement Awards Website | 2024 Achievement Awards Entries | Past Winners | Past Judges