The American Public Works Association, APWA, works to support those operating, improving, and maintaining public works and infrastructure through advocacy, education, and member engagement.
The association offers accreditation, providing a voluntary opportunity for agencies to objectively evaluate, verify, and recognize that they are in compliance with recommended management processes.
In 2014, the Town of Smithfield Department of Public Works became the smallest agency in Virginia, and the second smallest in the country, at the time, to receive this prestigious accreditation.
“We wanted to improve our process and be more efficient,” said Ed Heide, director of public works and utilities for the town.
The process renews every four years, providing the town with the opportunity to keep its procedures updated and documented.
“With staff turnover and positions changing, and the needs of the town changing, these processes can get forgotten from person to person,” said Heide. “So it consolidates all of our processes and SOPs into one place where we can reference them easily and efficiently.”
Accreditation and Office Manager Cathy Jones agrees.
“It has made a world of difference for our organization,” said Jones. “It’s a lot of work, a lot of bookkeeping, but it’s served us well.”
Learn more about the accreditation process and benefits in the video below.