New Hanover County’s Communications and Outreach Department was awarded two “Awards of Excellence” by the City-County Communications & Marketing Association at its annual conference in September, according to a news release.
 
“We are proud to be recognized on a national level for the creative and informative work we do,” New Hanover County’s chief communications officer Ruth Ravitz Smith said in the release. “We will continue to strive for excellence and develop new and effective ways to share the county’s story.”
 
The following New Hanover County communications were awarded:

• State of the County: In Their Own Words video, winning an Award of Excellence in the category of Video – One-Time Special Programming (population over 201,000).
• HazWagon promotions, winning an Award of Excellence in the category of Go Green Communications Program Efforts.

The Savvy Awards recognize local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing and residents-government relationships, officials said in the release. The Savvies salute skilled and effective city, county, agency or district professionals who have creatively planned and carried out successful innovations in communications and marketing.
 
Nearly 700 entries were received, with 63 first-place Savvy Awards, 62 second-place Silver Circle Awards and 61 third-place Awards of Excellence presented.