2026 APWA Ventura County Awards Program

The APWA Ventura County Chapter is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Ventura County Awards Program. These awards recognize outstanding public works projects and professionals whose achievements have made a positive impact on their agencies, communities, and the public works profession.

We encourage agencies, project teams, consultants, contractors, and public works professionals to submit nominations recognizing excellence in public works project delivery, leadership, innovation, and public service.

Project of the Year Award

The Project of the Year Award recognizes outstanding public works projects that demonstrate excellence in management, administration, innovation, collaboration, and service to the community through the successful delivery of public infrastructure and facilities.

Projects may be submitted in the following categories:

Structures

Projects involving new public structures or the preservation and rehabilitation of existing public structures, including municipal buildings, maintenance facilities, civic buildings, parks, and other vertical infrastructure.

Transportation

Projects involving streets, highways, bridges, transit facilities, active transportation improvements, traffic operations, or other transportation infrastructure.

Environment

Projects involving water, wastewater, recycled water, stormwater, flood control, treatment facilities, resource protection, environmental restoration, sustainability initiatives, landfill reclamation, or other environmental infrastructure improvements.

Historical Restoration/Preservation

Projects involving the restoration, preservation, rehabilitation, or adaptive reuse of historically significant buildings, structures, facilities, or infrastructure assets that are generally 75 years or older.

Disaster or Emergency Construction/Repair

Projects completed in response to natural disasters, emergencies, or unexpected failures requiring urgent restoration of public facilities or services, while demonstrating excellence in safety, community relations, environmental protection, and delivery under adverse conditions.

Projects will be evaluated on factors including construction management, safety performance, environmental stewardship, community relations, innovation, and the successful resolution of project challenges. Eligible projects must be substantially complete (at least 90% complete and available for public and/or agency use) by December 31, 2026.

Project of the Year Nomination Form

Professional of the Year Award

The Professional of the Year Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the public works profession through leadership, innovation, professional achievement, public service, and commitment to their community and profession.

Professional of the Year

Recognizes a public works professional whose career reflects sustained excellence, leadership, and service to the profession, agency, and community.

Young Professional of the Year

Recognizes an emerging public works professional who has demonstrated exceptional achievement, leadership, initiative, and potential for future impact early in their career.

Nominations should highlight the nominee’s professional accomplishments, leadership, contributions to the public works profession, involvement with APWA (if applicable), and service to their agency or community. Specific examples of achievements, innovations, and measurable impacts are encouraged.

Professional of the Year / Young Professional of the Year Nomination Form

Nomination Deadline

All nominations must be submitted by Friday, November 20, 2026.

We look forward to recognizing the outstanding projects and professionals who help make Ventura County’s communities safer, stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient through excellence in public works.