League of Cities recognizes 4 local governments for exceptional civic programs

Jacksonville Florida Downtown skyline by night with iconic Everbank and Vystar buildings - JACKSONVILLE, USA - OCTOBER 30, 2024

The Florida League of Cities (FLC) has honored four municipalities across the state for projects they’ve launched in the past year to help improve civic advancement.

The FLC presented Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Oldsmar and Pinecrest with the 2025 Florida Municipal Achievement Awards for innovative programs that had an impact on their communities. The awards covered four elements, including economic advancement, environmental stewardship, local action and public engagement.

“Florida’s cities are constantly developing creative, community-driven solutions to meet local needs and improve residents’ quality of life,” said FLC President and Cocoa Mayor Michael C. Blake. “It is truly inspiring to see what has been accomplished thanks to local leaders who have turned these visionary projects into reality. A heartfelt congratulations to the 2025 Florida Municipal Achievement Award winners.”

Jacksonville’s Small and Emerging Business (JSEB) Certification Program earned the Economic Advancement Award. FLC officials said there was no doubt that the program had a dramatic impact in that city.

“To ensure equitable access to resources, JSEB has facilitated more than 50 outreach events across all 19 (City Council) districts of Jacksonville. Over the past two years, the number of JSEB-certified businesses has doubled, with participating companies earning more than $106 million in city contracts,” and FLC news release said.

The Environmental Stewardship Award went to Pinecrest for its sustainability initiatives. Those included a free community composting program that diverted nearly 100,000 pounds from landfills, a recycling project in partnership with the Miccosukee Tribe in South Florida, and a “Floating Flower Islands” effort that served as a natural filter for local waterways.

“These programs combine environmental innovation with community engagement, offering a model for cities of all sizes and proving that measurable and adaptable environmental solutions can emerge from small municipalities to create regional impact,” FLC officials said of Pinecrest.

The FLC gave Oldsmar the Local Action Award for creating the Support Services Alliance, which coordinated relief efforts among nonprofits, churches and businesses in the wake of hurricanes.

“The Alliance mobilized over 430 volunteers, served nearly 12,000 meals, and provided direct support to nearly 5,000 households. This collaborative response has since been adopted into the city’s emergency operations plan as a model for future disaster resilience and is scalable for cities of any size,” the FLC said.

And Jacksonville Beach was bestowed the Public Engagement Award for programs that enhanced transparency, civic participation and public trust. The coastal community created a video series that explained municipal services, from lifeguard recruiting to code enforcement and other issues facing the city.

“With more than 60,000 views and consistent public interaction, the low-cost, in-house series has become a trusted platform that connects residents with their local government in a clear and consistent way that meets today’s communications challenges with authenticity and clarity,” the FLC said.

Each city receiving awards will be presented with a trophy and will be profiled in Quality Cities magazine, which is produced by FLC.