Citrus County Earns 17 National Achievement Awards for Effective Government Programs

CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. (Aug. 10, 2026) — Citrus County has been recognized with 17 2026 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services.

Awarded programs and initiatives include:

1. Veterinary Assistant Workforce Partnership – Citrus County Animal Services partners with Crystal River High School to provide hands-on training and education for students to earn their Veterinary Assistant Certificate.
2. Hernando Pool Adaptive Harvesting & Restoration Project – Citrus County Aquatic Services partnered with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to proactively remove floating mats of vegetation affecting environmental health.
3. Sunday Commentary – Citrus County Communications partners with County Administrator Steve Howard to keep residents informed through a weekly email newsletter focused on community and county projects.
4. Community Narcan Access Initiative – Citrus County Fire Rescue partnered with the Florida Department of Health to install 19 publicly accessible distribution boxes for naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses.
5. Enhanced Peer Support Program with Licensed Clinical Oversight – Citrus County Fire Rescue integrated a licensed clinical social worker to help ensure firefighters have structured, confidential and clinically appropriate access to support following critical incidents.
6. County Vendors First – Citrus County Fleet Management implemented a program to promote purchasing from local vendors, generating local economic support while maintaining compliance with competitive procurement standards.
7. Fuel Accountability & Optimization Initiative – Citrus County Fleet Management created a structured framework to strengthen fiscal oversight of fleet fuel expenditures.
8. Total Cost of Ownership Program – Citrus County Fleet Management modernized its vehicle replacement strategy by establishing standards and guidance to replace vehicles at the most financially responsible point in their life cycle.
9. Customer-Focused Go-Live Implementation Guide – Citrus County Growth Management shifted to a customer-centered model of software implementation, offering layered customer support during a permitting software transition.
10. Legislative Priorities Citizen Survey – Citrus County Intergovernmental Affairs launched a Legislative Priorities Survey to give residents a direct voice in the county's state legislative agenda.
11. C4 Countdown – Citrus County Libraries hosts a series of family-friendly programs to build community engagement and creativity in the weeks leading up to the Citrus County Comics and Cosplay Convention.
12. Citrus Reads – Citrus County Libraries runs a communitywide reading initiative in which one book each month is offered with unlimited digital access and physical copies to connect the community through a shared reading experience.
13. Homebound Library Services – Citrus County Libraries runs a program in which trained volunteers provide home delivery to ensure residents who cannot visit a branch because of a disability still have access to library materials.
14. Parks & Recreation Summer Camps Program – Citrus County Parks & Recreation provides themed summer camps for youth ages 3 to 13, promoting hands-on arts, environmental and sports education.
15. Women's Fishing Workshop – Citrus County Parks & Recreation hosts a biannual Women's Fishing Workshop to empower women of all skill levels through fishing instruction, environmental stewardship and community connection.
16. Data-Driven Pavement Management – Citrus County Technical Services implemented a comprehensive Pavement Management Program to modernize roadway planning. 
17. Eco-Compliant Partner Program – Discover Crystal River launched a program to recognize manatee tour operators that meet defined environmental, safety and educational standards.

"These NACo awards display the meaningful work county employees pursue to help improve quality of life for our residents, boost efficiency in the workplace and promote environmental stewardship," County Administrator Steve Howard said. "In the past three years, we've received 41 awards from NACo, demonstrating the hard work of our staff and their dedication to serving our community.”

Each year, NACo's Achievement Awards recognize outstanding programming in 18 categories aligned with the broad range of services counties provide. Launched in 1970, the program celebrates innovation in county government. Each nominated program is judged on its own merits rather than against other applications.

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The National Association of Counties (NACo) strengthens America’s counties, including nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees. Founded in 1935, NACo unites county officials to advocate for county government priorities in federal policymaking; promote exemplary county policies and practices; nurture leadership skills and expand knowledge networks; optimize county and taxpayer resources and cost savings; and enrich the public’s understanding of county government. www.naco.org

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