2019 Award and Recognition Highlights

National Association of Count​ies (NACo)

Broward County has received 18 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for innovative and effective government programs that enhance quality of life for residents, including Award-winning programs include:

Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation ​​Category  

Chalk Lit Festival - Broward County Library and Cultural Division produced and hosted the inaugural Chalk Lit Festival at the Main Library in downtown Fort Lauderdale, which attracted nearly 5,000 visitors. The kick-off event for the annual National Endowment for the Arts Big Read Program featured more than 20 pavement artists who created literary-themed chalk murals live on the library's plaza.

Community and Economic Development Category  

11 Steps to Exporting - A Roadmap to Your Exporting Success – Through this combination of classroom-style seminars, direct one-on-one technical assistance and graphic learning aids, the Office of Economic and Small Business Development gives small businesses the tools they need to help navigate and demystify the exporting process.

County Resiliency: Infrastructure, Energy and Sustainability Category

Play Conservation Pays and Win! - BEST IN CATEGORY based on exceptional results and unique innovations. – This online game is part of a campaign by the Environmental Planning and Community Resiliency Division to engage the public in water conservation, while advancing sustainability goals. Participants answer questions and quizzes to earn water drops and points, receive instant win prizes and six grand cash prizes of up to $5,000.

Current Conditions Flood Evaluation Tools - These tools were developed to proactively help identify and document flood risks in Broward County. They collect critical data and are incorporated in projects such as Document the Floods; the King Tides Initiative; the Future Conditions 100-year Flood Map; the sea wall study; the infrastructure failure analysis; the installation of a new permanent tidal station; the monitoring of surface and groundwater stages; and the advancement of storm water green infrastructure initiatives.

Economic Resiliency in Changing Environments - The Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division conducted an Economic Resilience study in Dania Beach, to estimate the economic costs of failure to protect the local business community from future storm surge and sea level rise impacts, and to identify the economic benefits actions to mitigate future coastal hazards.

Engaging Students in Climate Resiliency through Youth Climate Summits - Approximately 500 middle and high school students from 16 schools, along with their teachers, attended the first Broward Youth Climate Summit in Fort Lauderdale. The joint effort of Broward County Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division and the Broward County Public Schools was an opportunity for students to learn and share their concerns and ideas about climate impacts in South Florida. Participants began to develop Climate Action Plans for their schools and communities.

Microbial DNA Source Tracking Program - The Broward County Environmental Monitoring Lab has invested in technology to identify the origin of fecal bacteria. This is accomplished via DNA analysis, where DNA is extracted from a water sample and analyzed against a known set of genetic material. This program is an integral part of the County's regional water quality monitoring efforts with quarterly sampling of freshwater and coastal waterways. Data is used by local municipalities to support efforts in addressing local water quality impairments.

Sistrunk Bioswale-Green Infrastructure Community Demonstration Project - This project incorporated a curriculum providing students with the opportunity to learn about green infrastructure projects, participate in the design, implementation and monitoring of a bioswale, and volunteer in their community. As part of the project, a bioswale was installed in a two-acre area along Sistrunk Boulevard.

The Critical Infrastructure: Relations and Consequences for Life and Environment (Circle) Tool - The circle tool helps Broward County Environmental Planning and Community Resilience identify individual pieces of flood vulnerable infrastructure and understand their effect on surrounding infrastructure. Flood models use input from stakeholders to determine where at-risk points of critical infrastructure are located.

Children and Youth Category  

Junior Sustainability Stewards Program - This Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division program connected youth residing in an underserved community in Broward County with environmental professionals who could spark their interest in science-based sustainable careers, allowing them to venture into untapped academic and real-life STEM/environmental challenges, be mentored by professionals in the field, develop relevant skills, and earn scholarships to work in environmental science, advocacy and policy making.

Civic Education and Public Information Category  

Passport to Public Service - Broward Academy VII: Passport to Broward is an innovative and creative 10-week educational program designed to increase resident knowledge of County programs and services, and enhance understanding of how local government works. Thirty college students from six local universities, representing a variety of disciplines, were recruited for a “behind the scenes County journey." Millennial engagement was maximized through tours, interactive exercises and presentations, online gaming tools, experiential learning, internet communications and social media.       

Libraries Category

Bridging the Digital Divide with Gear to Go - Broward County Libraries wanted to inspire and educate County youth by providing free and convenient access to emerging technology. Lending programs were created to allow children and teens who work, live or go to school in Broward to check out cutting-edge technology from their local library, including 3D and virtual/augmented reality gear (MERGE Cube and Headsets), digital tablets and robotics. It also created opportunities for the Library to meet young customers “where they are" by providing Pop Up Libraries in unconventional locations that offer free eBooks without a library card.

Vet Fest - This free community event connected veterans and their families to valuable library and community resources through 25 different workshops, programs, exhibits and activities, presented by Broward County libraries and 35 participating partner organizations. The event featured a full day of activities including a keynote speech by retired Army General Nolen Bivens. There were discussions of veterans' issues, family activities, book giveaways, resume and job search assistance, recording of oral histories, legal and financial services, housing support and information about digital resources and library card sign-ups.

Parks and Recreation Category

Woofing Waters Dog Park - With an increasingly urbanized population and dog ownership that has held steady for decades – no wonder dog parks are booming nationwide. It's no different in Broward County, Florida, home to nearly 1.9 million residents and more than 123,000 registered dogs. Now the county has a second, much-needed dog park, Woofing Waters at Quiet Waters Park. The Parks and Recreation Division's facility fills a void – it's only the 17th dog park in a county consisting of 31 municipalities, only a third of which have dog parks.

Personnel Management, Employment and Training Category

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Employee Emergency Training Program - Broward County Aviation Department launched this innovative, industry-leading program to train airport employees to respond to emergencies including aircraft incidents, hurricanes and active assailants. Nearly 17,000 Airport employees completed 2.5 hours and six modules of online training on such topics as Airport Emergency Response Plans, Communications During Emergencies, First Aid, Customer Service and Recognizing Human Trafficking.

Employee Benefit Services Education Series -  Benefits of an HSA Workshops - Broward County Human Resources Division provides a comprehensive benefits program to approximately 5,500 benefit-eligible employees. This workshop series included classes and workshops to provide timely and specific information on topics requested by County employees and their dependents.

Open House Program - Human Resources Division's “Open House Program" is a non-traditional job fair that provides job seekers with a unique experience to network with County staff about various job profiles, meet County's benefit vendors, and utilize no-cost job services on-site such as resume critiquing and application assistance. Since hosting its first Open House event in 2017, Human Resources has partnered with local universities to host subsequent events semi-annually. 

Risk and Emergency Management Category 

Safety of Excellence Program - The Safety and Health Section of Broward's Risk Management Division initiated a proactive, behavior-based Safety Committee Program at Water & Wastewater Services. The program encourages workers, supervisors and management to coordinate efforts to better comprehend the complexity of safety and health issues in the workplace and enhance a positive safety culture.

National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO)

Broward County has won 22 National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO) Awards of Excellence

Best of Class

  • Cultural Division (1 award): The Journey - Wastewater Video, Audio / Visual Production – Podcasts in collaboration with Damian FitzSimmons / Braveman Media.
  • Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division (1 award): Document the Floods Crowdsource Application, Electronic Communications / Email Newsletter to Citizens.

Superior Awards

  • ​Cultural Division (3 awards):  Broward Arts Facebook page, Best Facebook Page; Hello Creatives, Audio / Visual Production – Podcasts; The Journey Wastewater Video, One Time Video Programming, in collaboration with Damian FitzSimmons/Braveman Media.
  • Environmental Planning and Community Resilience (1 award): Document the Floods Crowdsource Application, Electronic Communications/Websites.
  • Libraries Division (1 award): Data-Driven Decisions, Writing/Speeches.
  • Public Communications (2 awards): Penny Surtax Videos, A/V Production – Video Series in collaboration with myAniStudio; eCountyLine Commemorative Issue, Publications/Internal.

Excellence Awards 

  • Aviation Department (1 award): Ho, Ho, Ho. Tis the Season to be Jolly Either by Airplane or Reindeer, Writing / News Releases 
  • Cultural Division (1 award): Chalk Lit Festival 2018, Photography
  • Libraries Division (1 award): Broward County Library's eNewsletter, Electronic Communications / Email Newsletter to Citizens

Meritorious Awards

  • Aviation Department (2 awards): Airport Employee Emergency Training Program, Publications/Internal; NewsFLLash, Electronic Communications / Email to Citizens.  
  • Cultural Division (2 awards): Art Teacher of the Year 2018, Brochures / Multi-page; Annual Planning Forum PowerPoint Presentation, Graphic Design / Special Graphics.   
  • Libraries (4 awards): Library News - November/December 2018, Publications / External; Vet Fest, Special Projects / Ceremonies or Community Events; Library Website - Broward.org/Library, Electronic Communications / Websites; Facebook.Com/BrowardCountyLibrary - Broward County Library Facebook Page, Best Facebook Page.  
  • Public Communications (2 awards): Passport to Broward, Special Projects / Public Education Campaign; Emergency Dispatch Protocol System Video, Audio / Visual Production – One-Time Video Programming

​Other Awards

  • Broward County was one of five national winners of the 2019 RWJF Culture of Health Prize awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, recognized for pursuing innovative ideas and bringing partners together in collaborative efforts to rally around a shared vision of health.
  • Broward Water Partnership Wins 2019 WaterSense® Partner of the Year Award
  • Library Director Named Florida Library Association 2019 Librarian of the Year
  • Travvy Awards: 2019: Best LGBTQ Destination: Greater Fort Lauderdale, Silver
  • The Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD) recognized BCT's Rider's Choice Pilot Program with the 2019 Innovation Award.  
  • BCT won 1st Place Award at Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) in Print Advertising for its "We Connect You to Life" campaign promoting BCT's services. 
  • American Heart Association Workplace Health Achievement Index - Gold Level (2nd year) 
  • 2018 Achievement Award for Woofing Waters Dog Park at Quiet Waters Park from the National Association of Counties.
  • Broward County Parks and Recreation was recognized as the Best of 2019 Park and Garden by the Coconut Creek Award Program.
  • Parks Received a 2019 Silver International Aquatic Safety Award
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) received the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber's 2019 Salute to Business Transportation Award.
  • Office of Economic and Small Business Development was awarded the President's “E" Award for Excellence in Export Service in Washington, D.C.
  • Purchasing Division received an Award for Excellence in Public Procurement and Best Practice for 2019 from the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials. 
  • Aviation Director received the 2019 Apogee Awards and was named to the Executive Committee of the National Board of Directors for the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).
  • Human Services Department Director was honored by the Urban League of Broward County with the Margaret Roach Humanitarian Award, for her contributions to social justice causes.
  • The Florida Library Association (FLA) named Broward County Libraries Director Kelvin Watson Librarian of the Year. 
  • Parks and Recreation Director elected to the prestigious American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, as one of 125 practicing professionals selected from across the country.