Thurston County, Washington

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Thurston County Washington

Thurston County Awards

Thurston County is earning awards and recognition for its professional, people-first operations, programs and services designed to make tax-dollars go farther while improving the quality of life for the people in our community. Click on links below to learn more.

2026 Awards

The County's Fleet Services team was named one of the nation's 2026 Leading Fleets by Government Fleet for their ability to outfit, maintain and repair big road-work rigs to Sheriff's patrol units and everything in between. They keep 600+ vehicles moving across 722 square miles to keep your County at work for you.

NACO AWARDS - Thurston County received 30 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties in 2026 for commitment to essential programs and services - more than any other Washington county! 

  • County-wide Project Management Development 
    Our Central Services and Public Works departments built a project management training network to improve communication and execution on complex County projects. It worked so well other departments and programs adopted it resulting in more efficient coordination of important projects.​
  • Thurston County Public Works Equipment Training and Certification Program
    Our Public Works department introduced a standardized Equipment Training and Certification Program to our Road and Traffic operations teams. Developed with stakeholders it provides a comprehensive hands-on experience tailored to each type of equipment and has led to more certified equipment operators and less equipment damaged during operation. 
  • Protecting Democracy at the Local Level: Thurston County’s Integrated Election Security & Emergency Coordination Program
    Thurston County's Auditor helped secure democracy in Thurston County by building emergency management into the voting process - not as an after-thought but as the first thought. We also set up multi-agency coordination to ensure lightning-fast response in any situation for seamless operations.
  • Strengthening Public Health Response through Mental Health First Aid Training
    After COVID-19 our Public Health & Social Services Department learned that more mental health support is needed for the public and the staff supporting them. This prompted a deeper look into behavioral health support during response and recovery. Our in-house subject matter experts became certified trainers to staff and volunteers on mental health first aid practices.
  • Thurston County Elections Security Enhancement Program
    Thurston County's Auditor doubled the Ballot Processing Center's footprint to feature an inviting, public observation walkway with hardcore defensive engineering. And to protect election workers from high-level, modern threats installed ballistic-resistant architecture and a special negative-pressure mailroom to intercept dangerous substances.
  • Thurston County Grand Mound Urban Growth Area Multi-jurisdictional Initiative
    Our Public Works department developed a program to keep transportation planning and projects in the fast-growing Grand Mound Urban Growth Area on track to support economic development. By funding transportation improvements on state facilities, collaborating with the WA Department of Transportation, the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, and the development community they are helping keep Grand Mound on the move! 
  • IvyBeGone: A Community Partnership Restoring Burfoot Park’s Forests
    Our Public Works department has partnered with the Boston Harbor Association’s volunteer IvyBeGone team since October 2022 to remove invasive English ivy and restore natural forest habitat at the County's Burfoot Park.  Each year, volunteers remove an average of 27 yards and Public Works transports and disposes of it strengthening community stewardship and supporting our environmental restoration efforts.
  • Building a Culture of Preparedness: Thurston County’s Community Preparedness Expo & Public Readiness Campaign
    Our Emergency Management department built a community-centered preparedness program anchored by an annual Preparedness Expo that draws 300-500 residents, supported by year-round public outreach that reinforces preparedness and community connection.
  • Language Access Initiative: Spanish DS-11 Passport Application Translation Guide
    The County Auditor added an in-house, line by line translating tool that empowers native Spanish speakers to navigate the complex passport application independently. The main beneficiary – children! Because they often carry the heavy emotional burden of acting as translators for their parents.
  • Regional Environmental Education Partnership (REEP)
    The Community Planning and Economic Development department partners with Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Yelm as Stream Team to deliver free, hands-on environmental education often at the most scenic rivers, streams and South Puget Sound inlets to help residents enjoy these beautiful places while learning to protect them. 
  • The Thurston County “Path of the Ballot” Educational Initiative
    The County Auditor added a massive, 10-foot-wide infographic inside the Ballot Processing Center to help voters visualize the ballot process from voting to tabulation. It serves as a powerful tool to counter misinformation.
  • Thurston County Ballot Processing Observer Corridor Program
    The County Auditor converted an industrial warehouse into what is essentially an inviting public classroom with a walkway that aligns with the physical route of the ballots. It gives voters a front-row view of signature verification and tabulation. 
  • Thurston County Housing Justice Forum: Addressing Racially Restrictive Covenants
    The County Auditor in partnership with the University of Washington, we uncovered 1,700+ historical, racially-restrictive covenants in local property deeds. Not satisfied to stop there, we also provided and on-site notary, and the forms homeowners could use to remove those discriminatory clauses from their deeds.
  • Thurston County Public Works and St. Martin’s University Senior Design Project Partnership
    Our Public Works department partners with the St. Martin's University engineering program in nearby Lacey, WA to sponsor real-world projects for engineering students to apply learned skills. As an Accredited Board for Engineering and Technology program, their curriculum turns out top civil engineering undergraduates. As a local government department in need of engineers the benefits are mutual. This workforce pipeline supports our community and helps us identify potential new hires while providing students with hands-on experiences. 
  • Fleet Management Program
    The County's Fleet Services division of the Central Services department stepped up to rapidly expand the Sheriff's Office fleet after voters approved the public safety tax that funded 28 new Sheriff's deputy positions. They fully outfitted new vehicles and upgraded all existing TCSO vehicles with new cameras, mobile command terminals - and some with pursuit technologies like the grappler!
  • Information Desk & Qmatic Kiosks
    When many County offices and departments moved from a 1970s-era complex of buildings to a single facility, our Central Services and IT departments set up a new ticketing system to help customers get in line for service as soon as they walk in the door. By staffing an Information Desk right by a self-service kiosk they made adoption of the new technology smoother while maintaining the friendly, in-person service option nearby.
  • Energize Thurston
    This heat pump group purchase campaign makes it easier and more affordable for County residents to purchase and install efficient, all-electric heating/cooling and water heating systems to cut household energy costs and help meet County emissions reduction goals. In 2025 we used $2.5+ million in grant funding to subsidize 176 heat pump systems for low- and moderate-income households.
  • Thurston County First Look Diversion
    The Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office, Thurston County Public Defense, and Thurston County Pretrial Services review felony cases together to assess them for possible early diversion opportunities.
  • Thurston County Resource Hub Block Party
    The County's Pretrial Services division Resource Hub scaled-up its coordinated, justice-connected service model for a one-day event bringing together 500 community members and 200 service providers for the largest social service-based resource fair in Thurston County history. The Block Party reduced barriers to services by centralizing providers in one accessible location and creating an environment for immediate engagement.​
  • Small Asset Replacement Program
    Thurston County's Central Services and IT departments helped gain operational efficiencies for the Sheriff's Office by moving to a proactive instead of a reactive replacement model. By establishing structured annual replacement contributions, defined responsibilities, and providing a reserve for future needs the program collected $3.93 million and funded $3.43 million in replacements between 2021 – 2025. 
  • Lactation and Infant Feeding in Thurston (LIFT) Program
    The Public Health & Social Services department started this program to encourage human milk feeding in our community. They provide evidence-based, up-to-date resources on our public website, and offer an in-person infant feeding support group twice a month.
  • Multiagency Opioid Use Disorder Initiative
    Thurston County's Emergency Services/Medic One provide life-saving interventions. At the point of crisis our paramedics initiate a patient-driven, patient-centric approach with Narcan, Suboxone, optional transport, and direct referral to peer navigators. They also bridge the gap between emergency response and long-term recovery through provider referrals to the CCS Post Overdose Response Team (PORT). 
  • Narcotics Digital Migration Project
    Thurston County’s emergency medical services (EMS) system replaced manual, paper-based tracking with a digital platform. RFID-enabled pouches scanned into onboard unit safes create a fully auditable digital chain of custody. The project was undertaken proactively to meet new Drug Enforcement Administration requirements.
  • Nation-Leading Prehospital Point-of-Care Ultrasound Initiative
    Thurston County's Medic One is the first accredited EMS program in the U.S.to utilize ultrasound in its paramedic units. All 80 of the County's paramedics trained using the most robust prehospital ultrasound in our state. Our program received accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians.
  • Pleasant Forest Camping Club Septic Improvement Project
    Our Public Health & Social Services department collaborated with the Pleasant Forest Camping Club to install approved septic holding tanks. The project’s success led to enhanced ground and surface water protection from sewage pollution, as well as safe and reliable sewage management for the club.
  • Project SAFER
    Our Public Health & Social Services department developed Project SAFER to bridge the gap between people in the intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD) community and first responders. The program fosters relationships before emergencies to reduce negative interactions in an emergency.
  • The Lock It Up Program
    Public Health & Social Services developed a community-focused injury prevention initiative promoting safe, responsible firearm storage to reduce firearm-related injuries and deaths, particularly unintentional shootings, youth access, and suicides. 
  • The Youth Vaping Prevention Team
    Public Health & Social Services set up a Youth Vaping Prevention Team to coordinate community-centered ways to address youth vaping within Thurston County. The team uses a collaborative, data-based approach and  various vaping prevention and cessation strategies, including distribution of Quit Kits and creation of a grant program awarding up to $250,000.
  • Thurston County Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Program
    Public Health & Social Services created this first-in-Washington program to transform how fetal and infant loss is understood, supported, and prevented. Grounded in multidisciplinary case review, the program prioritizes translating findings into meaningful community action to ensure families are supported.
  • Thurston County Respiratory Illness Dashboard
    Public Health & Social Services set up an interactive public health tool to monitor respiratory virus activity within Thurston County. The dashboard tracks trends in acute respiratory illness, COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using indicators such as the percentage of emergency department (ED) visits associated with each illness and predefined transmission alert thresholds to recognize trends faster to provide faster alerts and information to the community.

Thurston County’s Fleet has been ranked 66 in the TOP 100 BEST FLEETS IN THE AMERICAS by NAFA Fleet Management Association's score card out of thousands of fleets. The County's fleet of 612 vehicles consistently outranks others thanks to staff mechanics who keep road construction trucks, sheriff's patrol and other vehicles excellent repair. Last year our fleet traveled 3.2 million miles and staff mechanics completed 3,200 repairs using more than one million parts. Check out the Fleet Video from our 2023 win!

Thurston County's Affordable Housing Program Assistant, Leah Tangeman just received a prestigious 2026 South Sound Exceptional Woman Award from the Soroptimist International of Olympia. Housing stability is one of the most critical challenges facing our community. Leah works on the front lines helping make housing more equitable and available. The award recognizes her for going above and beyond through leadership, compassion and community impact. Learn more about the County's affordable housing work.

​Thurston County Treasurer's Office has earned a second award in 2026 - a national certification from Government Investment Officers Association for the County's Investment Policy just months after receiving a state award, the 2026 Certificate of Excellence Award for Investment Policy from the Washington Public Treasurer’s Association (WPTA). These awards are earned by consistently following national and state best-practices in investing the more than $1 Billion in public funds under the County's care. Learn about the investment approach in the County’s Investment policy 

Thurston County was named Green Municipality of the Year by the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce for the innovative projects and programs driving it's climate change response. Learn more about the County's award winning solar, water, and waste solutions. 

 

2025 Awards

Group of Thurston County elected officials and employees gathered after an awards ceremony.

The County's offices and departments won awards from government professional associations and oversight organizations, including the National Association of Counties (NACo) Awards

In 2025, Thurston County won 19 NACo awards - more than any other Washington county and the only one to win a Best of Category Award (for the Fix-It Fair). 

Thurston County Auditor

NACo awards

  • Elections Security Enhancement Program - Thurston County Elections launched a major security upgrade for its new Voting and Ballot Processing Center, using federal grant funds. The project installed ballistic-resistant materials—like bulletproof glass, doors, and sheetrock—to create a secure safe room for election staff. The office also added on-site law enforcement during elections and worked closely with local and federal agencies to assess threats and improve emergency plans. This forward-thinking effort protects staff and voters, builds public trust, and serves as a model for other counties.
  • Saturday Passport Fairs -To meet high demand for passport services, the Auditor’s Office held two Saturday Passport Fairs in 2024. These events helped over 70 people apply for passports and took more than 50 passport photos. They were designed for people who couldn’t make it during the week, and helped reduce weekday wait times. The first fair included staff support from Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland’s office and the Seattle Passport Agency. The fairs cost almost nothing to run, received strong community feedback, and showed how the Auditor’s Office quickly increased services to meet public need.
  • Voting Access at Your Library (VA@YL) - Thurston County Elections partnered with Timberland Regional Library to offer voter assistance at four library branches during the 2024 General Election. Trained library staff helped voters register, access VoteWA.gov, and print replacement ballots. Election officials handled ballot collection. This partnership created a trusted, accessible option for voters facing last-minute or transportation challenges, and showed how libraries can expand voting access at low cost.
  • Public Transit Partnership for Voter Access - Working with Intercity Transit, Thurston County Elections made it easier to get to the polls. The transit agency extended bus service to the Voting Center past 8 p.m. on Election Day, improved ADA access, and updated route maps to highlight voting locations. Elections staff also used Intercity Transit’s Community Vans to move between facilities, saving money and reducing parking issues. This effort removed key barriers for voters who rely on public transit and provided a practical model for improving access in other communities.
  • Your Neighbors, Your Elections - To build trust in elections, Thurston County created a video campaign featuring real election workers sharing why they care about their jobs. Filmed inside the Ballot Processing and Voting Centers, the short videos show staff pride and commitment to integrity. Shared online and in low-cost ads, the campaign helped shift conversations away from misinformation and toward positive engagement. It showed the human side of elections, boosting confidence with minimal spending and big local impact.
  • The U.S. Election Assistance Commission also awarded Your Neighbors, Your Elections a national Clearinghouse Award and named the transit program an honorable mention.

Other Awards

  • Annual Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The Auditor's Financial Services team earned this for the 18th consecutive year, highlighting the county's exceptional financial reporting practices.
  • National Clearinghouse Award for Excellence in Voter Education and Communications from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for the County's video series Your Neighbors, Your Elections.  
  • National Clearinghouse Honorable Mention for Accessibility from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for “Expanding Access: Public Transit Partnerships for Accessible Elections” for extended bus service hours on Election Day, improved ADA access at the Voting Center, and using community vanpools to reduce costs and congestion.
     

Community Planning & Economic Development

  • The Habitat Conservation Program When the federal government declared four local species to be endangered, the county applied for and received a federal permit that allows the county to issue development permits to local applicants helping residents avoid the time and expense of getting their own federal permits.
     

Public Health and Social Services

  • The Healthy Habits Food Program’s goal is to connect state emergency food response networks to increase food security.
  • The QPR Suicide Prevention Program teaches the Question, Persuade, Refer method to help the community recognize and respond to a mental health crisis.
  • The Fetal Infant Mortality Review program - the first of its kind in Washington State - is aimed at reducing preventable loss of life.
  • The Resource Hub is a drop-in center for people with behavioral health needs who are also in the justice system. Staff help them quickly find and connect with free legal aid, healthcare, housing, employment help, and peer support. Services are free and voluntary.
  • A new language translation tool was put in place so staff can serve customers in many languages. Calls from Dec. 2024-July 2025: 75 Spanish, 9 American Sign Language video calls, 7 Vietnamese, 4 Mandarin Chinese, 3 Korean, 2 Arabic and 1 each in Tagalog and Ukrainian.
  • A dedicated hiring team helps PHSS applicants smoothly navigate the hiring process to improve retention of the talented employees who serve our clients and the community.
  • A community-based volunteer program, the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) trains volunteers to help during disasters, increasing the county’s capacity to respond.
     

Public Works

  • Fix-It Fair – The county won a best in category award for this free community event that brings together people with broken items and volunteer “fixers” to help repair them.
  • Recreational Trail Partnerships – The county maintains 36.5 miles of trails with state and federal funds, and is entering innovative partnerships with cities like Yelm, to make funds go further.
  • Water and Sewer Utility Consolidation - Three water systems were consolidated into a single Thurston County Water Utility and four sewer systems were consolidated into a single Thurston County Sewer Utility to benefit ratepayers by more efficiently and effectively sharing utility resources and providing a consistent level of service to address utility system needs or deficiencies.
  • Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program offers educational, behavioral and environmental solutions to assist in addressing traffic safety concerns in local neighborhoods. Staff work with neighborhoods to help prioritize and address concerns. By the end of 2025 this program will have resulted in the installation of three traffic circles, 34 speed humps and one raised crosswalk in six different neighborhoods.
  • Noxious weeds – Knotweed, a local menace, was spreading despite the community’s best efforts to tackle it as required by county codes. The county set up an assistance program to help people with specialized herbicide treatments that often need licenses.
     

Thurston County Treasurer

  • The Tax-Title Properties – The county is looking for innovative ways to get defunct properties back into action. 

 

Voter Education Video Series Wins Again!

The Auditor's Office won two additional awards for their voter education videos titled Your Neighbors, Your Elections. Awards included a Project of Impact Award from the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) and a Clearinghouse Award from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

Thurston County’s Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) - 2022 Planning Award from APWA / PAW in the category of Comprehensive Planning for Large Jurisdictions.

Restrictive Covenant Modification Outreach -  2022 National Association of Counties award Thurston County on its innovative program to address historical restrictions. Redlining or restrictive covenants was a common practice in the past to keep neighborhoods and subdivisions racially segregated. Though made illegal decades ago, racially restrictive covenants continue to impact potentially thousands of parcels throughout Thurston County. This program offered landowners the opportunity to correct racially restrictive covenants impacting their property free of charge. We researched land records and covenants throughout the county to identify the properties. Thurston County launched an outreach program to make direct outreach to landowners whose properties are impacted by unlawful racially restrictive covenants. The county created community partnerships, developed outreach materials, and made direct contact with hundreds of homeowners to facilitate the return of racially restrictive covenant modification forms.

During the 2020 General Election, the Thurston County Auditor’s Office experienced a dramatic increase in inquiries regarding ballot processing. In response, during the 2021 elections, the Elections Division instituted a robust program for observers at the Ballot Processing Center (BPC). Auditors are statutorily required to allow partisan observers. Our office requests observers for every election, yet historically there was very little participation. In 2021, the Elections Division included a full-page call for election observers in our Voters Guide that is mailed to every household. We had personal conservations with each political party requesting party observers from both sides of the isle. Non-partisan observers were also recruited through public communications, specifically press releases, social media posts and the full-page ad in the Voters’ Pamphlet which was mailed to all households in the county. And they turned out! Elections staff developed a new 90-minute training that covers all aspects of ballot processing, and a robust observer manual. Training is required for all observers, is conducted at least annually, and is available on our observer webpage. During the 2021 election cycle, the election division saw the largest and most consistent number of observers in the BPC from all political persuasions, despite limitations on capacity due to the pandemic.