The National Association of Counties (NACo) recently recognized a number of New Hanover County local government programs.

The NACo’s Achievement Awards Program “recognizes innovative county government programs based on individual merit, in order to highlight successes and share best practices with counties across the nation,” according to a news release from the county.
 
New Hanover County officials submitted 13 applications for consideration, and the national group gave awards to 10 local programs.
 
Those, according to the release, were:
 
• “Investment in Youth Job Skills Development Pays Real Dividends,” a community justice services program, in the category of Criminal Justice and Public Safety;
 
• “Business Not as Usual for Civil Defendants in Pretrial Release Services Program,” a community justice services program, in the category of County Administration Management;
 
• “Family Support Program’s Fatherhood Initiative,” a Department of Social Services program, in the category of Human Services;
 
• “Story Stations,” a public library project, in the category of Libraries;
 
• “Implementing Agile Project Management Methodologies for Improved Focus,” an information technology department program, in the category of Information Technology;
 
• “Smoke Alarm and Fire Prevention Program Helping the Deaf and Hard of Hearing,” a fire rescue program, in the category of Criminal Justice and Public Safety;
 
• “Maintaining Carolina Beach Inlet,” an engineering project, in the category of County Resiliency: Infrastructure, Energy & Sustainability;
 
• “Task-Oriented Cross Training,” a planning and inspections department program, in the category of Personnel Management, Employee Training & Benefits;
 
• “Community Battery Recycling,” an environmental management program, in the category of County Resiliency: Infrastructure, Energy & Sustainability;
 
• and “Intensive Reunification Foster Care Program,” a Department of Social Services program, in the category of Human Services.