ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced that Howard County has received a record 51 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). Howard County received the most awards in the state of Maryland from NACo, the leading organization representing county-level government operations. The Community Outreach on the Oakland Mills Road Complete Streets Project received the Best in Category award for Transportation.
Howard County is a center of innovation and transformation. These awards reflect that Howard County is the very best place where people of all ages, abilities, races, religions, and socioeconomic statuses can become their very best selves. This record number of awards could not be possible without our incredible employees who help make Howard County the best place to live, work, play, and grow for all.
NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policymaking. Since taking office in December of 2018, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has led the County in becoming a national leader in innovation and transformation, leading up to a total 81 NACo awards between 2019-2022. In 2022, Howard County received a total of 43 awards, earning the 5th highest number of awards in the nation, compared to other counties.
The winning entries include:
Transportation
- Community Outreach on the Oakland Mills Road Complete Streets Project (Best in Category)
- Training Resources Provided for New Complete Streets Policy and Design Manual
Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation
Children and Youth
- Embedding Racial Equity Framework in Youth-Centered Mentorship
- Howard County Youth Workforce Development Program
Civic Education and Public Information
Community and Economic Development
- Apprenticeship Program
- Business Revitalization Initiative Through Entrepreneurship (BRITE) Program
- Fort Meade Workforce Development Partnership
Community Administration and Management
- Auditor Question and Answer Portal
- Automated and Expanded Residential Walk-Through Online Permitting Process
- Innovative Procurement Training Program
County Resiliency
- Biosolids Product Marketing Program
- Climate Change Emergency Preparedness Survey
- Fire Hydrant Replacement Program
- Howard County Climate Forward: A Better Way to Plan
- LED Light Bulb Exchanges in Howard County Libraries
- Native Plant Pollinator Garden Design Templates
- Unique Commercial Partnerships for Water Quality Solutions
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Health
- Healthy Lifestyle in Residential Communities Project
- Howard County Government Workforce Wellness and Prevention Screening Initiated January 1, 2022
- Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program
- “Harm Reduction and Peer Recovery Services Program”
Human Services
Information Technology
- Application System for Commercial Landfill Permit Process
- Capital Budget Tracking Tool
- IT Innovation at Harriet Tubman Cultural Center
- IT’s Business Service Catalog
- IT’s Contribution to Council Administration’s PIA Request Form Process
- IT’s Contribution to Liquor License Online Payments- Phase One and Two
- IT’s Contribution to Office of Human Rights and Equity’s Case Management Program
- IT’s Contribution to Trees for Bees Program
- IT’s Enhancement to Moderate Income Housing Unit’s Online Application
- IT’s Redesign of Bureau of Utilities’ Landing Page
- IT’s Service Catalog Redesign
- Land Use 2019: A Spatial Odyssey
- Online Right-of-Way Utility Permitting
- Project 25 Radio Network Upgrade
- Public Information Request Processing
Parks and Recreation
Personnel Management, Employment and Training
Planning
Risk and Emergency Management
- Command Unit Program
- Howard County Emergency Operations Center Representative Training Program
- The Howard County Office of Emergency Management’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Ellicott City Outdoor Tone Alert System Integration
Volunteers