June 23, 2025 – El Paso County has been recognized with three 2025 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
Each year, NACo’s Achievement Awards recognize outstanding programming in 18 categories aligned with the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, libraries, management, information technology, health, civic engagement and more. Launched in 1970, the program is designed to celebrate innovation in county government.
“El Paso County’s recognition with three national Achievement Awards from NACo is a meaningful reflection of the innovation, dedication, and cross-departmental collaboration that defines our organization,” said Bret Waters, El Paso County Administrator. “These honors showcase the impact of our efforts—from expanding economic opportunity through community outreach, to elevating the County’s voice through stronger media engagement, to creating more meaningful ways for volunteers to get involved. Each initiative reflects our commitment to building a stronger, more connected, and resilient community. I’m proud of the teams behind these efforts and the measurable impact they’re making across the region.”
Award recipients include the Economic Development, Communications, and Parks Departments. Specifics of the award-winning projects include:
Community Impact: El Paso County Colorado’s Outreach & Education Initiative | Economic Development – The Community Impact initiative uses webinars and in-person events to build trust, engage residents, and connect underserved populations with essential services across El Paso County’s 2,000+ square miles. Since January 2024, outreach efforts have driven a 297% average increase in program access and earned a 100% satisfaction rate in post-event surveys.
El Paso County Media Relations Training | Communications – El Paso County’s Media Relations Training, developed by the El Paso Information Collaborative (EPIC), a countywide network of communications professionals, equips subject-matter experts with the skills and confidence to serve as official spokespeople. By teaching best practices for accurate, timely, and consistent media engagement, the program boosts transparency, builds trust, and elevates the quality of public communication.
Volunteer Restoration Crew | Parks – With little trash to clean but plenty of willing hands, Bear Creek Nature Center shifted focus and created the Restoration Crew. Volunteers were trained in trail work, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and fire mitigation—giving them meaningful ways to support the park they love. In just one year, 100+ volunteers completed six workdays, contributing over 280 hours—an estimated $9,520 in value. The results are clear: more wildlife-friendly open space, fewer man-made dams, and a growing population of macroinvertebrates in Bear Creek.
To learn more about the NACo awards, visit their website.
To learn more about El Paso County’s award-winning services, please visit elpasoco.com.
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