Thurston County, Washington

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Thurston County Washington

Public Works

Thurston County Public Works APWA Accreditation Program

Thurston County Public Works APWA Accreditation Program

As an American Public Works Association (APWA) accredited agency, Thurston County Public Works is proud to be one of only eleven agencies in Washington State to achieve this distinction. 

In September 2023, we received our fourth consecutive APWA accreditation. For us, accreditation is about more than just compliance; it embodies our relentless pursuit of excellence in serving the people of Thurston County.

 

A Word from Our Director

"This honor highlights our Public Works team’s commitment to continuous improvement and embracing industry best practices in every aspect of our work. Garnering our fourth APWA accreditation is a proud achievement that reflects our ongoing dedication to excellence in serving the Thurston County community." 

- Karen Weiss, Thurston County Public Works Director.

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What is APWA Accreditation?

APWA Accreditation is a mark of quality and efficiency in Public Works. Agencies earn this recognition by undergoing a rigorous evaluation process that verifies compliance with industry best practices, as outlined in the Public Works Management Practices Manual. 

Accreditation promotes excellence in operating and managing a public works agency, its programs, and its employees. The process assists agencies in continuously improving operations and management while objectively evaluating agency programs as a service to the public and the profession.

 

Benefits of APWA Accreditation

Achieving APWA accreditation offers a multitude of advantages, such as:

  • Continuous Improvement: Fostering a culture of ongoing development and refinement.
  • Operational Excellence: Enhancing the performance and delivery of services to the community.
  • Team Building and Staff Development: Strengthening internal community bonds and processes.
  • Knowledge Retention: Preserving institutional knowledge and planning for succession.
  • Efficiency: Streamlining documentation and eliminating redundancy.
  • Effective Communication: Improving communication both within the agency and with the public.

 

Accreditation Duration and Process

Initial accreditation from APWA lasts for four years. During this time, agencies provide semi-annual updates to demonstrate ongoing compliance. After the initial accreditation, agencies undergo a quadrennial re-accreditation process that encourages continuous improvement and compliance with newly identified best practices.

 

Historical Context and Distinctions

Thurston County Public Works was first awarded APWA Accreditation in 2011 and has maintained its status since then. We hold the distinction of being:

  • 1 of 196 accredited organizations nationally
  • 1 of 11 organizations in Washington
  • 1 of only 3 counties in Washington