The Smart Cities Dive Awards highlight notable people and projects in U.S. city, county and regional government. The awards consist of two programs, the Public Service Awards and the Community Project Awards.

Smart Cities Dive Public Service Awards

The Smart Cities Dive Public Service Awards honor individuals in local government who demonstrate and can document their community impact, leadership, innovation, mentorship, collaboration and focus on results. 

The awards are a continuation of the American City & County Exemplary Public Servant Awards following the 2025 merger between AC&C and Smart Cities Dive. 

This year’s winners 

• Janet Aristy, assistant commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection, New York City

• Betsy Keller, chief administrator, El Paso County, Texas

• Nicole Nabors, finance director, Fort Walton Beach, Florida

How to submit a nomination

Nominations for the next Smart Cities Dive Public Service Awards cycle will open in February 2027. The nominating process requires completing an application form and submitting supplemental documents and photos in support of the nomination. The nomination form will be posted here and shared via the Smart Cities Dive free daily newsletter.

Deadline

The deadline for Smart Cities Dive Public Service Awards nominations is March 8, 2027.

Smart Cities Dive Community Project Awards

The Smart Cities Dive Community Project Awards highlight local government projects solving real community needs. Criteria include innovation, effective use of resources or good return on investment, community response or impact, technology integration, sustainability/resilience, replicability and long-term viability.

The awards are a continuation of the American City & County Crown Communities Award. 

This year’s winners

• A Durham, North Carolina, initiative to extend full participatory budgeting to people in county detention.

• A Jacksonville, Florida, program to use data from the property appraiser’s office plus AI to identify neighborhoods with high proportions of heirs’ properties at risk of purchase by institutional investors.

• A Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, EV car-sharing and curbside charging program providing clean transportation options to Twin Cities’ residents.

• An Orlando, Florida, effort to provide energy-efficient appliances to renters and other low-income residents.

How to submit a nomination

Nominations for the next Community Project Awards cycle will open in summer 2027. The nominating process requires completing an application form and submitting supplemental documents and photos in support of the nomination. The nomination form will be posted here and shared via the Smart Cities Dive free daily newsletter.

Deadline

The deadline for Smart Cities Dive Community Project Awards nominations will be set in mid-2027.