National Public Works Week Honors Public Works Professionals Across North America
KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 24, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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 U.S. and Canada. This year the NPWW celebration will be held during May 21-27, 2017, 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.
"The 2017 NPWW poster illustrates that as the cornerstone of their communities, public works provides, maintains and improves structures and services, such as streets, roads, bridges that keep us linked from coast to coast, as well as clean water and sanitation services that keep us healthy and allow communities to grow and prosper," said APWA President Ron Calkins, P.E., PWLF, Public Works Director in Ventura, CA (retired).
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 both the U.S. and Canada, the NPWW celebrations, events and activities are marked by resolutions and proclamations by governors, provincial premiers, mayors, and other city and county officials. These celebrations recognize and honor public works professionals during this special week, and include well-deserved observances of many kinds, including parades, open houses, displays of public works equipment, programs for civic organizations and media events," he said.
"NPWW has been celebrated during the third week in May since 1960 to recognize the incredible contributions that public works makes to our society," said Grayson. "The NPWW government activities have included annual United States Senate resolutions affirming National Public Works Week, and have included letters of acknowledgment from Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson, and a Presidential Proclamation signed by John F. Kennedy in 1962."
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 about APWA's National Public Works Week, visit the website at www.apwa.net.
About APWA:
The American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 29,800 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, has an office in Washington, D.C., along with 63 chapters across North America.
SOURCE American Public Works Association
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