Residents and other stakeholders need to learn about the valuable work of local governments — the ways local officials keep a municipality running smoothly and the new ways they find to make improvements. The Association's Municipal Achievement Awards offer a ready-made way for local governments to show off their efforts. The awards honor excellence in local government programs, and they also encourage the sharing of ideas among cities and towns.
How to find a winning Achievement Award entry
Every city and town likely works on an award-worthy project at some point each year, but discovering that project may take some collaboration.
- Ask every department to create a list of their best completed projects. Ask them also to consider what projects have had the most meaningful effects on residents.
- Create an interdepartmental competition to decide which department's work should be submitted for the Achievement Award entry.
- Take a look at the videos and descriptions of previous Achievement Award winners online.
Projects need to be substantially complete to be eligible and can be submitted only one additional time if they do not win. Municipalities with a population of 20,000 or less can compete in either a population or subject category. Municipalities with a population greater than 20,000 can compete only in one of the five subject categories.
The entry form is available online, and the 2020 submission deadline is January 29. The designated contact person for each entry will receive a receipt confirmation email by January 31.
Cities submitting in the subject categories must make an oral presentation at an assigned time on February 24 or 25 in Columbia at the Municipal Association's office.
The Association will recognize award winners at the Annual Meeting Awards Breakfast held in Charleston on July 18, 2020.
For more information, contact Meredith Houck at 803.933.1215 or mhouck@masc.sc.