In Durham, North Carolina, residents who are incarcerated can have a say in how the city spends a slice of its budget. Residents in Minnesota’s Twin Cities can access a municipally owned electric car-sharing and car-charging network that may be the first of its kind. Orlando, Florida, is helping low-income renters and homeowners lower their utility bills by giving them energy-saving equipment like portable solar panels. And in Jacksonville, Florida, a partnership between the county appraisers’ office and a nonprofit helps prevent vulnerable homeowners from losing their homes to institutional investors.
Smart Cities Dive has named those four projects the 2026 Smart Cities Dive Community Project Award winners. These initiatives address issues that matter to residents today — including energy costs, housing, transportation and community engagement — and exemplify the foresight and fortitude that make cities and counties work.
The Smart Cities Dive Community Project Awards continue the tradition of the American City & County Crown Communities Award following last year’s merger between AC&C and Smart Cities Dive.
Congratulations to the local leaders who spearheaded these projects in Durham, North Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota; and Orlando, Florida. Read the articles on these projects below to learn more about the difference they’re making and how they might scale to your community.
