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County Awards
Loudoun County government programs and services have been recognized for excellence by several state and national organizations.
2023 National Association of Counties Achievement Awards
The National Association of Counties has recognized Loudoun County for its innovative programs with four 2023 Achievement Awards. The winning programs and the lead departments involved are listed below. Find details in this news release.
- Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park: Parks, Recreation & Community Services
- Loudoun Farm Exchange: Economic Development
- Pre-K Skill Builders: Loudoun County Public Library
- Summer Camp Application Program: Family Services
Loudoun County Public Library Designated a Star Library
In February 2023, for the third year in a row, the Loudoun County Public Library was named one of America’s best public libraries by Library Journal, the industry’s leading publication. Of the more than 5,000 libraries included in the national survey, LCPL was one of only 258 libraries in the nation and one of only six in Virginia to receive the prestigious “Star Library” designation. Find more information here.
Loudoun Workforce Resource Center Earns Champion of Disability Employment Award
The Loudoun Workforce Resource Center has been recognized by the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services as a Champion of Disability Employment for its efforts to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Read more in this news release (PDF).
Loudoun Recognized for Excellence in Financial Reporting for Fiscal Year 2021
Loudoun County has been recognized for excellence in financial reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association. The county has received separate awards for the Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and its companion document, the FY 2021 Popular Annual Financial Report. Links to the reports are online here.
Virginia Association of Counties Recognizes Loudoun for Model Programs
Two Loudoun County programs have been recognized for excellence and innovation by the Virginia Association of Counties. The presentation of historic records by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and the Teen Micro Art Gallery at Loudoun County Public Library have received 2022 Achievement Awards from VACo. Read details in this news release (PDF).
Loudoun Recognized for Excellence In Procurement
In 2022, Loudoun County again received national recognition for organizational excellence in public procurement. The Loudoun County Division of Procurement earned the 2022 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute. Read details in this news release (PDF).
2022 National Association of Counties Achievement Awards
In 2022, Loudoun County was recognized with five National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards. The awards recognize innovative programs. The winners and the departments involved are listed below. Read more about the award-winning programs in this news release (PDF).
- COVID-19 Related Business Grants: Economic Development
- Discover Your Outdoors: Parks, Recreation & Community Services
- High Threat Team: Sheriff Office, Combined Fire & Rescue System
- Online Community Service Hubs: Loudoun County Public Library
- Site Assessment Program: Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Loudoun
Loudoun Earns Best in Resilience Award
Loudoun County is the first county in the United States to earn the Gold Tier level of recognition in the “Best in Enterprise Resilience Certification” awards program. The designation recognizes the significant strengths of the Loudoun County government in deploying technologies and practices to maintain readiness and responsiveness and to build community resilience. Learn more in this news release (PDF).
Loudoun Earns Excellence in Procurement Award
In 2021, Loudoun County again received national recognition for organizational excellence in public procurement. The Loudoun County Division of Procurement earned the 2021 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute. The annual program recognizes procurement organizations that embrace innovation, professionalism, productivity, leadership and e-procurement. Read details in this news release (PDF).
Loudoun Parks and Recreation Receives State Award for Arts Center Event
In October 2021, Loudoun County was recognized by the Virginia Recreation and Park Society with a “Best New Event” award. The award was for a three-part series of anti-racism programs titled, “You’re So Articulate,” held in 2020 at the Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center, which is operated by the Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services.
Loudoun Receives Outstanding Achievement Award in Popular Annual Financial Reporting
In 2021, for the fourth year in a row, Loudoun County received the Outstanding Achievement Award in Popular Annual Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The award is for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Citizens’ Popular Annual Financial Report. The award recognizes jurisdictions that create annual financial reports specifically designed to be readily accessible and easily understandable to members of the general public who do not have a background in public finance. Read more in this news release (PDF).
Loudoun Economic Development Awarded Top Industry Honors
In October 2021, the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development was honored with the coveted Gold Award for “Economic Development Organization of the Year” by the International Economic Development Council. Read more in this news release.
Virginia Association of Counties Recognizes Loudoun for Model Program
A Loudoun County program that assists landowners with best management practices for natural resource conservation has been recognized for excellence and innovation by the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo). The Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) - Loudoun Master Gardeners Site Assessment Program has earned a 2021 Achievement Award from VACo. Read more in this news release (PDF).
Excellence in Financial Reporting
Loudoun County has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the field of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Loudoun County received the award for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2020, which was judged to have met the high standards of the awards program. The report is online at loudoun.gov/financialreports.
2021 National Association of Counties Achievement Awards
In 2021, Loudoun County was recognized with nine National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards. The awards recognize innovative programs. The winners and the departments involved are listed below. Read more about the award-winning programs in this news release (PDF).
- COLLAB Residency: Loudoun County Public Library
- Gwen Thompson Briar Patch Park Project: Parks, Recreation & Community Services
- Intersection Crash Reduction: Sheriff's Office
- Online Summer Reading: Loudoun County Public Library
- PPE Production Initiative: Loudoun County Public Library, Office of Emergency Management
- Prescription Delivery Program: Sheriff's Office
- Remote Court Hearings Program: Clerk of the Circuit Court, Information Technology
- Remote Services Program: Clerk of the Circuit Court, Information Technology
- Serving Seniors Through a Pandemic: Loudoun County Public Library
Loudoun Recognized by National Association of Parks and Recreation Officials
The Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services was recognized for excellence in facility projects and programs completed in 2020 by the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials. The organization recognized the enhancement and redevelopment project at Gwen Thompson Briar Patch Park in Sterling for providing outstanding efforts in planning, design, construction and benefits to the community. NACPRO also recognized the PRCS Adaptive Recreation Summer Camp in the Removing Barriers Initiative category as a program that enables and encourages greater participation in parks and recreation by persons with disabilities.
Loudoun Earns International Recognition for Business Development and Marketing Efforts
In 2020, Loudoun County received international recognition for its business development and marketing efforts with three awards from the International Economic Development Council. The awards went to three multi-agency projects led by the Department of Economic Development: the “Loudoun is Ready” pledge campaign, the Virtual Spring Farm Tour and the “Rural Uses in Loudoun County” guide. View details in this news release.
Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center Receives Marketing Award
The annual awards of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society honor individuals, departments and organizations throughout the state that demonstrate excellence. In 2020, the Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center in Purcellville received an award for the Most Innovative Marketing Piece for its 2019 Planetarium Promotional Video at the 65th Annual VRPS Conference, which was held virtually.
Loudoun Earns Excellence in Procurement Award
In October 2020, Loudoun County again received national recognition for organizational excellence in public procurement. The Loudoun County Division of Procurement earned the 2020 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute. The annual program recognizes procurement organizations that embrace innovation, professionalism, productivity, leadership and e-procurement.
Loudoun Named a Top Digital County
In September 2020, Loudoun County was again recognized as one of the most technologically advanced county governments in the United States. Loudoun was ranked among the top ten in its population category in a national survey conducted by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties.
2020 Virginia Association of Counties Achievement Awards
Two Loudoun County programs were recognized as models for excellence and innovation.
- Busy Buddies: The Loudoun County Department of Animal Services launched the program to meet the challenge caused by the increased number of dogs arriving at the shelter in need of additional medical and/or behavioral intervention prior to adoption. The volunteer-driven, in-kennel enrichment program was created to reduce stress in dogs, which has been linked to behavioral decline, increased rates of contagious disease and euthanasia. As a result, over the past four years, euthanasia has dropped 21%, disease outbreaks have dropped by 60% and the length of stay at the shelter has dropped by nine days. The program has since been expanded to provide enrichment for animals of all species needing temporary refuge at Loudoun County Animal Services.
- Implementation of Billing and Collection of Taxes for Incorporated Towns: To improve the efficiency of tax billing and collection, Loudoun County has assumed responsibility for billing, collecting and administering personal property and real estate taxes for five of Loudoun County’s seven incorporated towns: Hillsboro, Leesburg, Lovettsville, Middleburg and Round Hill. Taxpayers who live in the towns no longer receive two separate bills with separate due dates for county and town property taxes. Instead, residents and businesses receive one bill listing both the county and town taxes. Taxpayers now make a single payment to the county, which in turn remits the appropriate amount to each town. Loudoun is the first jurisdiction in Virginia to partner with town governments to implement a centralized tax billing and collection program.
2020 Government Finance Officers Association Outstanding Achievement Award in Popular Annual Financial Reporting
For the third year in a row, Loudoun County received the Outstanding Achievement Award in Popular Annual Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The award is for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Citizens’ Popular Annual Financial Report. The award recognizes jurisdictions that create annual financial reports specifically designed to be readily accessible and easily understandable to members of the general public who do not have a background in public finance. Read more in this news release (PDF).
2020 National Association of Counties Achievement Awards
The awards honored three innovative, effective county government programs:
- Busy Buddies: The Loudoun County Department of Animal Services launched the program to meet the challenge caused by the increased number of dogs arriving at the shelter in need of additional medical and/or behavioral intervention prior to adoption. The volunteer-driven, in-kennel enrichment program was created to reduce stress in dogs, which has been linked to behavioral decline, increased rates of contagious disease and euthanasia. As a result, over the past four years, euthanasia has dropped 21%, disease outbreaks have dropped by 60% and the length of stay at the shelter has dropped by nine days. The program has since been expanded to provide enrichment for animals of all species needing temporary refuge at Loudoun County Animal Services. This program won NACo’s Best in Category award in the Volunteer Category.
- Center for Fitness, Wellness and Support Services: The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System created the Center for Fitness, Wellness and Support Services to help firefighters meet the physical and psychological demands they face on the job. The center is part of a holistic wellness strategy managed by a “centralized, structured and data-driven approach” to improve firefighter health, occupational readiness and career sustainability. The facility’s staff includes a certified strength and conditioning specialist and a behavioral health coordinator. The center, which includes a weight room, cardio studio, mobility/yoga area and classroom, is designed to reduce injuries and related costs and improve resiliency and longevity for the county’s first responders.
- Rural Business Uses in Loudoun County resource guides: As part of the county’s response to a growing rural economy, the Loudoun County government created a series of easy-to-understand, step-by-step guides to help entrepreneurs interested in starting an agricultural or rural-based business in the county. Through a collaborative process involving many county departments, a series of guides was produced that translate the zoning code language into plain language that a lay person can understand. The guides have created improved understanding among the community as well as the many county government departments involved in rural business applications, leading to a reduction in the number of issues in the processing of new applications for rural businesses. Guides for each approved rural use are available at LoudounRuralBiz.org .
2020 Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. This marks Loudoun County’s 31st Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the 29th consecutive year that the county has received this honor from GFOA. Loudoun County received the award for its Fiscal Year 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which demonstrated a constructive ‘spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate the county’s financial story. Read more in this news release (PDF).
Loudoun County Economic Development Campaigns Recognized in 2019
In 2019, the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development won two major awards for its marketing campaigns from the International Economic Development Council, the top association for economic development professionals. the department also won the prestigious Hermes Creative Award administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. View the department's recent awards.
2019 Virginia Housing Awards
Loudoun County was recognized with two Virginia Housing Awards at the Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference in November, giving a nod to efforts to address the complex issue of unmet housing needs in one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. Loudoun was part of a regional collaboration that earned the Best Regional Partnership Award for addressing how to expand the range of housing options in anticipation of Amazon’s new headquarters in Northern Virginia. Read more in this news release (PDF).
Best Facility Award: Dulles South Recreation and Community Center, Dulles South Senior Center
Loudoun County received the 2018 Best New Facility Award for the Dulles South Recreation and Community Center and the Dulles South Senior Center from the Virginia Recreation and Park Society. The award was presented at the organization's conference in 2019. Loudoun was chosen for the top award out of all jurisdictions in the state with 200,000 or more residents.
The Dulles South Recreation and Community Center is located in the South Riding community and is co-located with the Dulles South Senior Center. The facility includes a gymnasium, climbing wall, fitness areas, and competition and leisure pools, while the senior center includes recreational and leisure program space, classrooms, a computer lab and game room, arts and crafts areas and a commercial kitchen.
Fire and Rescue Program Recognized with Achievement Award
The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System's Fire Command and EMS Competency Center was recognized with a 2019 Achievement Award from the Virginia Association of Counties.
The center, which includes a fire simulation area and an emergency medical services simulation area, is credited with bringing improvements to the county's incident command system. The center was designed and developed by county personnel and is used for ongoing training; for lieutenant, captain and battalion chief promotional processes, and for volunteer and career personnel to better understand the challenges that officers face. The center has improved the system's incident command skills, unit tracking and communications skills.
Communication Awards: City-County Communications and Marketing Association
In 2019, Loudoun County received national recognition for its communications efforts from the City-County Communications and Marketing Association, also known as 3CMA. The loudoun.gov website and the Smart Scale public engagement project both earned Awards of Excellence at the group’s national conference. The award judges cited the ease of use of the website and called it a “valuable tool for residents.” In the resident participation category, the interactive online survey map developed for the Smart Scale highway and road projects was cited as a “smart way to use GIS data” to engage the public in the decision-making process.
2019 Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Highway Safety Award
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office received the 2019 Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Highway Safety Award (Fairfax Region). The Sheriff’s Office was nominated by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and recognized for efforts in enforcement, public education and community outreach for traffic safety in Loudoun.
The nomination stems from the LCSO’s efforts to curb impaired driving through sobriety checkpoints, as well as teenage driver education programs to educate our new drivers. The programs include brochures developed by the agency offering a checklist of what every driver should know before getting behind the wheel. These brochures are handed out to all new teenage drivers at the annual Loudoun County licensing ceremony held in Leesburg.
2019 Achievement of Excellence Award - National Procurement Institute
The Loudoun County Division of Procurement has received many national awards, including the 2019 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute. The award goes to organizations that demonstrate excellence by obtaining a high score based on standardized criteria. The criteria are designed to measure innovation, professionalism, productivity, e-procurement, and leadership attributes of the organization. Read more in this news release (PDF).
2019 Awards of Excellence: National Association of County Information Officers
In 2019, the county won two Awards of Excellence from the National Association of County Information Officers. One of the awards was for the redesign and re-imagining of the county’s website, loudoun.gov. The other is for the new Loudoun County wordmark and graphic identity. The awards recognize the best work being done by county communications professionals across the country.
2019 Certificate of Distinction in Performance Management - International City/County Management Association
The Loudoun County government again received national recognition for its data-driven management and communication efforts. The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) awarded Loudoun a Certificate of Distinction in Performance Management, which is a higher level of recognition than the county received in the past. Loudoun received the award, in part, for its success in collecting and verifying data to ensure reliability and improve performance, training staff in performance measurement and reporting data transparently to the public through documents such as the Loudoun County Budget and the Loudoun County Budget Story. Read more in this news release (PDF).
2019 Government Finance Officers Association Outstanding Achievement Award in Popular Annual Financial Reporting
In 2019, Loudoun County again received the Outstanding Achievement Award in Popular Annual Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The award was for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Citizens’ Popular Annual Financial Report. The award recognizes jurisdictions that create annual financial reports specifically designed to be readily accessible and easily understandable to members of the general public who do not have a background in public finance. Read more in this news release (PDF).
2019: Ranked in Top Ten by Digital Counties Survey
Loudoun ranked among the top ten in its population category in a national survey conducted by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties. Loudoun was one of 58 counties in the nation highlighted for “their commitment to using tech to improve quality of life, shore up cybersecurity, support municipal resources and more.” Led by the Department of Information Technology, Loudoun County continues to seek innovative ways to deliver services efficiently. Read more in this news release (PDF).
Loudoun Receives Award for Emergency Medical Services Cardiac Care
The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System was awarded the prestigious Silver Plus Mission Lifeline Award from the American Heart Association in 2019. The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program recognizes hospitals and EMS agencies for their success in improving the quality of care for acute, high-risk, time sensitive, life and/or quality of life threatening coronary conditions. The program’s goal is to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, beginning with the 9-1-1 call, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. The initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines. Loudoun County met specific criteria and standards of performance to win the award.
2019 Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
The Certificate of Achievement from the GFOA is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Loudoun County received the award for its Fiscal Year 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which demonstrated a constructive ‘spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate the county’s financial story. Read more in this news release (PDF).
Loudoun County Public Library Wins National Award
In 2019, the Loudoun County Public Library won national recognition for its program “Science on Tap,“ earning the Excellence in Library Programming Award from the American Library Association. The program is part of the Library’s efforts to engage more adults in the community. The program is a partnership between the Library, Old Ox Brewery and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus. More information is online at library.loudoun.gov.
2019 Outstanding Public Transportation Marketing Award
Loudoun County Transit and Commuter Services received statewide recognition for its marketing efforts, winning the 2019 Outstanding Public Transportation Marketing Award from the Virginia Transit Association. The award was for the “Vámonos! Let’s Go” campaign, which features a bilingual English/Spanish brochure that highlights the various transit services offered by Loudoun County along with other commuting options such as carpooling and vanpooling. Read more in this news release (PDF).
Loudoun Wins National Achievement Awards for Innovation
In 2019, Loudoun County was recognized with 10 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties.
The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs. Loudoun’s award-winning programs ranged from helping those at risk from homelessness to providing Loudoun-branded onesies to the first 100 newborns in Loudoun in 2019. The programs and departments involved are listed below. Read more about the winning programs in this news release (PDF).
- Branching Out for the Homeless: Loudoun County Public Library; Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services
- Community Dinners: Loudoun County Public Library
- County Assumption of Billing and Collecting Incorporated Town Taxes: Treasurer, Commissioner of the Revenue
- Discussion Forums on Trending Workplace Issues: “Loudoun Talks”: Human Resources
- Douglass Dunes: Parks, Recreation & Community Services
- Expansion of Legal Resources: Clerk of the Circuit Court, Loudoun County Public Library
- Improving Digital Government Services: Public Affairs and Communications, Office of the County Administrator
- Lessening the Burden on Families:Office of Emergency Management, Office of the County Administrator
- Made Here, Grown Here - Hospital Onesie Campaign: Economic Development
- On Board: A new online hiring and training online system: Human Resources
D.A.R.E. Program Honored with Legacy Award
In 2019, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office was recognized at the annual Loudoun School-Business Partnership Breakfast for a program that has been a fixture in Loudoun’s schools for over three decades. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) Program received the Legacy Award, which recognizes a longstanding partnership that has had a lasting effect on Loudoun’s students. The D.A.R.E. program has been taught by members of the Sheriff's Office to 5th-grade students in Loudoun County schools since 1987 and was expanded to middle schools during the 2012-2013 school year. Since it began in Loudoun, the D.A.R.E. program has taught nearly 150,000 Loudoun County students, providing them valuable life-lessons, how to make good decisions and how to get out of bad situations.
Loudoun Receives SolSmart Silver Designation
Loudoun County was recognized in January 2019 by the national SolSmart Program for its efforts to make it easier for homes and businesses to go solar. Loudoun received a SolSmart Silver designation, one of only four communities in Virginia to achieve this ranking. SolSmart, a program of the International City/County Management Association and The Solar Foundation, recognizes communities that have taken key steps to address local barriers to solar energy and foster the growth of local solar markets. Read more in this news release (PDF).