Lakeland Achieves American Public Works Association Accreditation for the Second Time
LAKELAND, FL (July 17, 2020) | The Lakeland Department of Public Works has recently received full accreditation by the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the second time. This accreditation formally verifies and recognizes that the agency is in full compliance with the recommended management practices set forth in APWA's Public Works Management Practices Manual.
Open to all governmental agencies with responsibilities for public works functions, initial accreditation from APWA is for a four-year period, during which time semi-annual updates will be required to demonstrate continuing compliance. After that time, there is a re-accreditation process which builds on the original accreditation, encouraging continuous improvement and compliance with newly identified practices.
The purpose of accreditation is to promote excellence in the operation and management of a public works agency, its programs, and employees. Accreditation is designed to assist the agency in continuous improvement of operations and management, and in providing a valid and objective evaluation of agency programs as a service to the public and the profession.
"The Department of Public Works has dedicated itself to continuous improvement and excellence, and the heroes of this accomplishment are the staff whose mission is it to provide services and programs that contribute to making Lakeland, FL a great place to live, work and play. Our team, with support from City Management and City Commission, continues to push the boundaries of what is possible through innovation and education to remain a leader in the ever-changing landscape of Public Works", says Director of Public Works, Heath Frederick.
APWA's accreditation process includes five major steps:
- Self-Assessment: Using the Public Works Management Practices Manual, an internal review of an agency's practices combined with a comparison of the recommended practices contained in the manual;
- Application: Once the decision has been made to commit to the Accreditation Program, the agency submits a formal application;
- Improvement: After the agency has completed the self-assessment and identified areas needing improvement, the agency will work to bring all practices into an acceptable level of compliance with the recommended practices
- Evaluation: Following the completion of the improvement phase, the agency will request a site visit. The site visit will consist of a review and evaluation of the agency to determine the level of compliance with all applicable practices.
- Accreditation: The Accreditation Council will review the site visit results and recommendation from the team, voting to award or deny
Formally awarded the prestigious accreditation by APWA's Accreditation Council for the first time, the Lakeland Department of Public Works is the 111th agency in North America to be awarded APWA Accreditation, and the third agency in the State of Florida. In addition to the Lakeland, the accredited agencies in Florida include Aventura, Coral Springs, Ft. Myers, Gainesville, Hillsborough County, Largo, Miami Beach, North Port, Okaloosa County, Pinellas County, Port St. Lucie, Sumter County, and Wellington.
For more information about APWA Accreditation, please contact the APWA Accreditation Program at accreditation@apwa.net.
About APWA
The American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 30,000 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, MO, has an office in Washington, DC, and 63 chapters in North America.
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About Lakeland
The City of Lakeland was incorporated in January 1885 and has grown to become one of the largest inland communities in Florida. With a current population of over 100,000, Lakeland continues to grow. It has been designated a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area by the US Census Bureau for over 30 years. With tourist attractions and gulf beaches only an hour away, Lakeland continues to capitalize on its ideal central Florida location along the I-4 corridor. The City owns and operates Lakeland Electric, the third-largest publicly owned utility in Florida and it was one of the first to offer power in the Sunshine State over 110 years ago.
For additional information about the City of Lakeland, please explore LakelandGov.net.
Citizens are also invited to follow the City on social media.