Recognizing Everyday Impact in Every Community

From local governments and school districts to state departments and public agencies, teams are launching new initiatives, modernizing services, and finding better ways to connect with the residents who rely on them. It might be a new initiative expanding access to services, a smarter workflow that saves staff time, or a digital improvement that makes it easier for residents to engage with their local government. Some improvements are highly visible. Others happen quietly behind the scenes. But each effort plays a role in strengthening communities and improving how people experience public services every day.

Share Your Story of Community Impact

Every great initiative begins with a challenge and ends with a community that’s better because of its solution. We invite you to nominate a leader, department, team, or agency for work completed in 2024 or 2025 that has improved services, strengthened engagement, enhanced operational efficiency, or helped build trust with your community.

Tell us about the story behind your initiative:

• What challenge did your team set out to solve?
• What solution, program, or improvement did you introduce?
• How did it change the experience for residents or staff?
• What measurable or meaningful impact did it have on your community?

Your initiative might have introduced a new automation or service, streamlined a once-manual process, expanded accessibility, or improved how residents find information and connect with their local government. No matter the size of your organization or the scale of your initiative, we want to hear how your work is making a difference. Help us spotlight the people and projects strengthening communities across the country.

How Submissions Are Evaluated

A panel of judges will evaluate all submissions based on:

• Innovation: How creative and original was the initiative? Did it introduce new methods, automation, AI, tools, or ideas to solve a community issue or improve public services?
• Community Impact: What measurable or observable impact did the initiative have on the community or residents? How has it improved the quality of life or civic engagement?
• Scalability & Sustainability: Is the initiative sustainable and scalable? Can the initiative be continued over time, or potentially leveraged by other communities?
• Resident Experience: Did the initiative deliver improved engagement, access, inclusion, and/or equity?

Awards and Recognition

Ten submissions will be selected. The top three will each receive a $1,000 charitable donation, a recognition trophy, and be featured in a video spotlight and press release. The remaining seven will be recognized on our Community Impact Awards winners’ landing page.