Roanoke County has been honored time after time for it's government operations, quality of life, excellent school system and for commitment to meeting the needs of its citizens. Here are just a few of the awards and honors that Roanoke County has received...
The All-America City Award is one of the nation's oldest and most respected community recognition programs which identifies communities each year for extraordinary civic accomplishments. Founded in 1949, the All-America City Award recognizes communities whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon results. Roanoke County received this honor in 1989.
The County was selected because of its work on the Explore Project, cooperative efforts with adjoining jurisdictions on the Hollins Community Development Project, and the new Blue Ridge Library. Each year, only ten cities are selected as All-America City winners. These communities exemplify the true American spirit at work. Their citizens are actively committed to ensuring that their community is a safe, nurturing place to live. Since the program’s beginning, more than 4,000 communities have competed and nearly 400 have been named "All-America Cities."
The criteria for judging and determining the All-America Cities are:
- Creative use and leveraging of community resources,
- Significant and specific community achievements,
- Projects that address the community's most important needs,
- Cooperation across jurisdictional boundaries,
- Clear demonstration of project results and impacts,
- Projects which have impacted the community significantly within the last three years, and have potential to continue improving the quality of life,
- At least one project should document ways in which the lives of children and youth have been tangibly improved.
(Information on the All-America City Award program received from Allstate and National Civic League home pages)
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In 2009, Roanoke County once again claimed the top spot among counties in the 150,000-249,999 population category, reaffirming the County's committment to providing first class information technology services for its citizens.
The Digital Counties Survey conducted by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties has consistently named Roanoke County among the most technologically-advanced, cutting-edge county governments in the United States.
In 2007 and 2008, Roanoke County ranked number two in a field of thousands of counties across the country that were invited to participate in the survey that annually addresses how local counties are using technology to deliver online services and provide for digital governance.
From 2004-2006, Roanoke County earned the top ranking as the most high-tech county in the country for its size. Annual awards for the Digital Counties Survey are presented by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties (NACo) to municipalities across the nation that are committed to offering the very best in digital services to their citizens.
The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. The Center is a division of e.Republic, Inc., a national publishing, event and research company focused on information technology in the public sector.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) is a full-service organization that provides legislative, research, technical, and public affairs assistance to county governments. Created in 1935, NACo continues to ensure that the nation’s 3,066 counties are heard and understood in the White House and Congress.
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Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism has received many accolades for it's programs and services over the years. In 2007 alone, the department earned five Virginia Recreation and Parks Society awards this week at the state association's annual conference. The County was recognized for excellence in programs for citizens with disabilities, receiving awards for Best New Program and Outstanding New Professional in the department's Therapeutic Recreation section. The department also received two awards for outstanding promotional publications, one for it's dedicated Therapeutic Recreation Services program guide and one for the department's Camp Roanoke Promotional brochure. The department also received a fifth award for Best New Special Event for the 2006 US Challenge event, co-hosted by Roanoke County and other nearby localities and agencies.
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Enchanted Eve, Roanoke County’s alcohol-free and family-centered New Year’s Eve event, has been named one of the Top 20 Events by the Southeast Tourism Society.
Southeast Tourism Society is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the promotion of travel to and within the Southeastern States.
Conceived and coordinated by Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism, “Enchanted Eve” is an alcohol-free, community inspired, New Year’s Eve celebration that provides a range of family-based alternatives to traditional New Year’s revelry. The many community-based events reflect activities and entertainment for all ages to enjoy.
Marking a new year in a special way is a human need and is a “peak” experience in our social lives. “Enchanted Eve” responds to this need in a positive way that includes all aspects of the community. With support from the Town of Vinton, the event’s spine runs through and around the town’s center and offers a safe and close festive route. The streets and landmark buildings are all used to host different activities, most which are held inside.
For more information about Enchanted Eve, visit Parks, Recreation & Tourism or visit http://www.southeasttourism.org/ for more information about the Top 20 Events List.
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ROANOKE COUNTY & HOLLINS UNIVERSITY RECEIVE
PRESTIGIOUS VML PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Award Spotlights Program for Youth
Roanoke County, VA (November 15, 2007)- Roanoke County and Hollins University took home the Virginia Municipal League (VML) President’s Award this year for their work with an annual summer camp for youth offered in cooperation with area businesses.
The program known as Technology Education for Kids or TEK Camp is focused on workforce development which is a significant concern for businesses in the Roanoke Valley and beyond. Members of Roanoke County’s Economic Development Department, Director of Social Services and a representative from Hollins University traveled to Williamsburg last month to accept the award at VML’s Annual Conference. And on Tuesday of this week, the program was highlighted during the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors meeting.
TEK Camp is a project that identifies students with technical potential at an early age for the purpose of enhancing their skills training in the secondary school system. The camp spans five days and is free of charge for the children, who are provided meals, transportation, and supplies. Camp is held on the campus of Hollins University with fieldtrips to the business community throughout the week to meet local executives, human resource managers and employees. The classes and interactive programs challenge young people to discover how technology impacts their lives and the many career and educational opportunities that are available to them. Hollins University and Roanoke County could not make the camp the success it is without the help of the local business community and Roanoke County schools. Some of the businesses that have opened their doors to the children include First Team Auto Mall, WDBJ Television, Q-99 and the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.
One judge described the program as, “...a successful, innovative and collaborative effort of local government, educators and business leaders, resulting in the continuous development of a well-trained technical workforce for the Roanoke Valley Region.”
TEK Camp began in 2004, with 12 students enrolled in a pilot program. In 2006, Roanoke County received 57 applications and enrolled 38 participants. Corporate sponsors and partners fund the program.
The President’s Award is the most prestigious award granted by the VML Achievement Awards program. The award was established in 1996 for Virginia governments to submit projects which exemplify the jurisdiction’s efforts to improve the delivery of services to its citizens in an innovative and entrepreneurial manner.
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Governor Tim M. Kaine selected Barker Chiropractic Clinic, P.C of
Roanoke County to receive the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Virginia’s Fire Services Support in the Private Sector.
Roanoke County Fire and Rescue nominated Barker Chiropractic Clinic, P.C. for having demonstrated exceptional dedication to the success of Virginia Fire Services throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Over the past 5 years, Drs. Jeff and Nancy Barker have dedicated themselves to educating the Roanoke Valley about fire and life safety by raising and donating money to Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department in an effort to provide fire and life safety educational tools to the citizens of Roanoke County and the Roanoke Valley. The total amount donated throughout the five years has now reached over $8,000. Furthermore, the Barkers have organized and hosted an Annual Health and Safety Fair to highlight ways for our citizens to stay safe and healthy.
Additionally, Roanoke County Fire and Rescue has been selected by the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association for Best Practices in Fire Service Health and Safety for our Wellness and Physical Fitness Program.
In early 2004, Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department established a Wellness and Physical Fitness Program chaired by Division Chief Steve Simon. A committee was established and compromised of Station Officers, Paramedic/Firefighters, and Firefighter/EMT’s reflective of the various shifts of the department. The mission of the program was to improve the overall health of department personnel through self awareness, education, and physical fitness. The committee met bi-monthly to accomplish the mission with a well defined time line and the actual policy was enacted by Chief Richard E. Burch Jr. The targeted audience was all uniformed employees of the Department.
Both awards were presented to Chief Richard E. Burch, Jr. at the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association’s Mid-Atlantic Expo and Symposium in Virginia Beach. For more information,
see Fire and Rescue.
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Roanoke County has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the budget document for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006 and ending June 30, 2007. This award is the highest form of recognition in government budgeting. The award was established in 1984 and recognizes exemplary budget documentation by state and local governments. Each budget document is evaluated using a comprehensive evaluation checklist by three independent reviewers who are members of GFOA’s Budget Review Panel. The Department of Management and Budget first received this award in 1987, and this will be the 20th consecutive year that they have been recognized for this achievement. Budget Director Brent Robertson, and Budget Manager Holly Salvatore accepted the recognition at the February 27, 2007 Board of Supervisors Meeting.