Achievement Award Program
Frequently Asked Questions
General Overview
What is the Achievement Award Program?
The Annual Achievement Award Program is a non-competitive awards program that recognizes innovative county government programs in a variety of categories.
What does non-competitive mean?
Applications are not judged against one another for an Achievement Award. Instead, applications are judged based on their own merits according to the criteria outlined in the application.
What is the Best of Category Award?
After reviewing all the applications in a category, the judges may pick one or two innovative programs that stood out from the rest. Best of Category awards may not be awarded in all categories. These programs are awarded a Best of Category Award in addition to an Achievement Award.
How can I obtain an application?
Applications for the 2010 Achievement Award Program will be available online in December. If you would like to be added to the email list to receive a notification when applications are available, please email Kathryn Murphy at kmurphy@naco.org.
Eligible Programs
What are the eligibility standards?
All programs must have started after January 1, 2006, county officials or staff must have played a significant role in developing and implementing the program as a part of their official duties, all steps in the application process must be followed and all application fees must be paid in full, and the program must meet the criteria outlined in the application under Program Criteria.
My program won an Achievement Award in the past. May I submit it again?
No, if the program has won an Achievement Award in the past, that program is not eligible for another Achievement Award unless the program has made substantial and significant changes since the previous award was received.
Application
What is needed to apply?
In order to apply for an Achievement Award, you must complete the application form and up to seven page narrative about the program. The seven page narrative must cover the sections outlined in the application. Please see the application for more details on what should be included in each of these sections. Please staple the application form to the narrative.
What program information is needed on the application form?
The title of the program must be provided on the application. If the program is selected for an award, this title will be used exactly as it appears on the application form for the award certificate.
What category should we choose for our program?
Please select the most appropriate category for your program regardless of your county department. If the judges feel the application belongs in another category, it will be moved during the reviewing process.
Who should be the contact person for the application form?
The first name listed is who NACo will contact should any problems arise with the application. The award notification letters will also be addressed to this person
What format should the narrative have?
The narrative can be in any typed font, single or double spaced, but cannot be more than seven pages. Please see the application for suggested page lengths of each section. Please staple the application form to the narrative. No report covers or binding are necessary.
My program did not use sophisticated technology. Can I still apply?
Yes, the use of technology will vary widely among the categories and programs. Please provide information about the technology used even if it was only Microsoft Office or similar programs.
Can I include additional materials?
Yes, you may submit supplemental materials, but all the information requested in the application must be in the narrative. It is up to individual judges how much time is spent reviewing supplemental materials. Please be sure that the application form and narrative are stapled and separate from any additional binders or other materials.
Who needs to sign the Application form?
The Chief Elected Official in your county must sign the application form. Please plan the time to get the form to him or her prior to the application deadline.
May we submit all the applications from our county in one package?
Yes, you may submit all the applications from your county in one package, but please enclose a cover letter with the title of each application being submitted. The signature on this cover letter by the Chief Elected Official can be used in lieu of the signature on each application form.
Payment
What is the fee to apply?
If paying by check or credit card, there is a $50 application fee for member counties and a $100 application fee for nonmember counties. If paying by Purchase Order, there is a $60 fee for member counties and a $110 fee for nonmember counties.
Can I pay with a credit card by phone?
We cannot accept payments via phone. Please provide the information on the application form and mail to the address below.
Why must we pay to apply?
The achievement award program is a self supporting program run by the Research Division. The application fee covers administrative costs as well as awards for winning programs.
Mailing
When are the applications due?
Applications must be postmarked by Friday, February 12, 2010.
Where do I send the application?
Please mail the application to
2010 Achievement Awards
National Association of Counties
P.O. Box 79007
Baltimore, MD 21279-0007
Can I send our package via UPS or FedEx?
You may use these shipping companies, but we encourage the use of US Mail for faster processing. Since these services do not ship to PO Boxes, please ship to:
National Association of Counties
2010 Achievement Awards
25 Massachusetts Ave
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20001
Can I submit the application online or via email?
No, we are currently not accepting applications online or via email.
Award Announcement
When are the awards announced?
Award notification letters to all applicants will be mailed to the contact person listed on the application form the first week in June. Notification letters to non-winners will also be mailed at this time.
Why have I have received notification on one award but not another?
All the award notification letters are processed and mailed over a week’s time and may arrive at staggered times through the first few weeks in June.
What will I receive if my program is selected as an award winner?
If the program is selected as an award winner, the contact person on the application form and the Chief Elected Official of the county will receive an award notification letter and an award certificate. You will also receive an invitation to the Awards Reception at our 2010 annual conference in July in Washoe County, Nevada.
When will my program be on your website?
Winning program titles will be online by the end of June. Abstracts of each winning program will be available in August.
Duplicate Certificates
How can I obtain additional 2009 certificates?
You may purchase additional certificates online at www.easttowest.com by clicking on the NACo logo and then Award Certificates. The cost for each certificate is $10.
Can I obtain duplicate certificates from prior years?
Yes, we have a limited supply of certificates from previous years. Please contact Kathryn Murphy at kmurphy@naco.org or 202-661-8806 to purchase. The cost for each certificate is $10.
For more information onf the Achievement Award program, please contact Kathryn Murphy, NACo Research Division, at 202-661-8806.
Related Files
2009 Achievement Award Application (PDF File)
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