The National Association of Counties (NACo) has recognized New Hanover County with 11 Achievement Awards, according to a news release.

The achievement marks the fourth consecutive year the county has earned 10 or more national awards and bringing the total to 76 of these recognitions in the past nine years, the release stated.

The annual NACo conference was held in Tampa, Florida, with New Hanover County Board of Commissioners Chair Bill Rivenbark, Commissioner Rob Zapple, County Manager Chris Coudriet and Intergovernmental Affairs Manager Tim Buckland in attendance, according to the release.

“It is truly remarkable to be celebrating 11 Achievement Awards for the second straight year,” said New Hanover County Board of Commissioners Chair Bill Rivenbark in the release. “We often talk about having a team that is committed to serving our community in alignment with our shared values of professionalism, equity, integrity, innovation, stewardship and accountability. These honors are an outstanding recognition of that continued dedication and we are so proud of everyone in the organization who made this moment possible yet again.”

Every year, NACo’s Achievement Awards program recognizes county governments throughout the country in 18 categories, according to the release.

New Hanover County’s 11 awards were spread out over five different categories. Below are the programs and services that were recognized:

• Blue Clay Road Business Park, Community and Economic Development category
• Teacher Housing Assistance Program, Community and Economic Development category
• Customer Service at new Government Center, County Administration and Management category
• Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Strategic Plan, County Administration and Management category
• Community Empowerment Court, Criminal Justice and Public Safety category
• Digital Evidence Lab, Criminal Justice and Public Safety category
• Food Access Story Map, Health category
• Getting Home Street Outreach Program, Health category
• Integrated Targeted Testing Services, Health category
• The Healing Place Partnership, Health category
• Shadow Puppetry, Libraries category

NACo is a national organization featuring more than 3,000 county governments and administrators around the country.