KANSAS CITY, Mo. (May 22, 2017) – Each year across North America, National Public Works Week (NPWW) is celebrated by the American Public Works Association’s (APWA) over 29,800 members in hundreds of municipalities throughout the United States and Canada. This year the NPWW celebration was held May 21-27, to honor the public works professionals who plan, design, build, manage and operate the infrastructure that ensures a higher quality of life for our communities. Each year the number of participating communities continues to grow, steadily increasing the number of citizens who are exposed to the value of public works. Instituted as a public education campaign by APWA in 1960, NPWW calls attention to the importance of public works in community life.

2017 Theme: “Public Works Connects Us”

The 2017 theme of National Public Works Week, “Public Works Connects Us,” celebrates the vital role public works plays in uniting people and communities. This year’s poster artist is Dan Cosgrove, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a graduate of the University of Cincinnati who subsequently moved to Chicago for a freelance career. Cosgrove has won numerous major awards, including a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators.

APWA encourages municipalities with public works agencies and professionals to take the opportunity to make their stories known in their municipalities during the week. The National Public Works Week How-To Guide is one of several resources the association makes available to agencies to assist them in the development and implementation of their own celebrations.

Recognizing Public Works Contributions

"Having served as a city council member, I have seen the enormous contributions public works professionals make to our communities,” said APWA’s Executive Director Scott Grayson. “They are creative problem-solvers who do not require recognition despite the fact that they may work around the clock plowing streets, fixing water main breaks, ensuring our drinking water is clean, and cleaning up after fires or storms. They are often the first ones in and the last ones out. APWA’s members work tirelessly to improve the quality of life for their communities in which they work.”

In addition, the Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year award, which recognizes exceptional public works professionals each year, has been a cornerstone of National Public Works Week since its beginning. The program has identified more than 570 men and women who reflect the highest standards of professional conduct for public works officials. These honorees have been recognized for discharging critical responsibilities in connection to the design, construction, maintenance and/or operation of major public works projects and activities in large and small municipalities throughout North America. “Their accomplishments are often particularly noteworthy in relation to the limited manpower and financial resources available,” Grayson added.

For more information, visit APWA.