Durham, NC – Durham County Government has been recognized by the National Association of Counties for its innovative approaches to local government by once again being among this year's NACo Achievement Award winners. At the 2025 NACo Convention and Exhibition, Durham County received seven NACo Achievement Awards. Durham County also maintained its top-10 status in the Digital Counties Survey with a ninth-place ranking among the country's counties with a population of 250,000-499,999.

“We are definitely trying to be progressive and forward thinking. It is all because of our exciting teams across the County working together,” said County Manager Claudia Hager. “I would like to thank the staff who took the time to elevate the work we are doing at Durham County and the comradery across the organization. Although it only takes one department submitting an application, they are working with all departments and colleagues to make the service happen. Thank you for your commitment and excellence to ensuring our residents have great service.”

Durham County’s Award-Winning Programs and Initiatives Presented NACo Achievement Awards:

The African American Legacy in Gardening and Horticulture Symposium

Durham County Library

Telling the stories of Black Americans who have cultivated plants and community through their work in gardening, the annual African American Legacy in Gardening and Horticulture Symposium embeds the experience of Black North Carolina gardeners in broader United States and global history.

Durham County Social Services Case Management Modernization

Information Services & Technology and Department of Social Services

Recognizing the growing complexity and caseload demands in social services, Durham County identified the urgent need for a modernized, integrated platform to support frontline workers, supervisors, and administrative staff in managing case information efficiently and securely. This technology investment lays the foundation for sustainable, client-centered service models that prioritize both efficiency and compassion in the County's social service delivery.

Durham County Duke Fiber Implementation

Information Services & Technology

Resulting from a generous collaboration between Duke University, City Durham, and Durham County, the County is able to enhance high-speed broadband access across multiple government facilities without the need for new construction or major capital expenditure. This partnership ensures scalable and secure communication pathways that are essential for modern government operations, especially those involving public safety, emergency management, and community service delivery.

Durham County DCo Votes Application

Board of Elections and Information Services & Technology

An innovative and user-friendly application created to provide readily accessible election information directly into the hands of Durham County voters. The DCo Votes application not only serves as a hub of information; it also allows in-app notifications, allowing the Board of Elections to send important information to notification subscribers.

Durham County Voter Experience Survey

Board of Elections

Created to gather valuable feedback from voters during both the early voting period and on Election Day. The survey was designed as a tool to collect insights and real-time data from voters regarding their experiences, which included ease of access, satisfaction with the voting process, and any challenges they may have faced.

DCo Forward 2029

Durham County Manager’s Office

A strategic plan designed to improve government operations through data-driven performance management. DCo Forward 2029 focuses on key areas, ensuring that departmental goals align with the community’s evolving needs enabling Durham County Government to prioritize resources and track progress. The plan strengthens Durham County's ability to manage growth, improve service outcomes, and meet the changing needs of the community.

Durham County Government Public Facing Website Modernization

Information Services & Technology and Public Information Office

The Durham County Government Public Facing Website Modernization project is a strategic and forward-thinking initiative aimed at transforming the County’s primary digital gateway, DCONC.gov, into a modern, user-centric, and accessible platform. Durham County launched this multi-phase modernization effort to address both present needs and future growth. This is a dual-phased project geared toward improving the functionality of the next-generation website.

Read the full abstract for each of these achievement awards on NACo’s Achievement Awards webpage.

All NACo Achievement Awardees were celebrated at the NACo Annual Conference Achievement Awards Lunch and General Session held during the NACo Annual Conference and Expo, July 11-14, 2025, in Philadelphia, PA. The Durham Board of County Commissioner recognized staff at the BOCC Regular Session on Monday, July 28.

“None of what we do or vote on as a Board would be possible without our Durham County staff,” said Chair Nida Allam. “There are 100 counties in North Carolina and 3,144 counties in the country. For our County to receive this many awards nationally is a huge feat and shows how amazing of a team we have here.”

Visit NACo’s Achievement Awards webpage for details about all NACo Achievement Award winners and past awardees. For more additional details about Durham County's Achievement Awards, email publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov.

###