By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies and similar tracking technologies described in our privacy policy.

2026 Awards Competition Call for Entries

Click here to download a PDF of the APWA 2026 Awards Application and Nomination Form.

A Call to All Illinois Chapter Organizations of the American Public Works Association

The APWA Awards program was established to recognize outstanding individuals, groups, and organizations.  By recognizing professional contributions, public works professionals promote an atmosphere of mutual respect and provide a way to grow and achieve.  Acknowledging the difference people make in life is a powerful action.

Image of a two-lane road with traffic line paint in the middle.

2025 Project of the Year – Nofsinger Road Realignment

Celebrating Accomplishments in Public Works

The 2026 APWA award applications are now available for submission.  Please review the summary of the awards below. The full criteria for the national APWA award program can be found on the APWA website at: https://www.apwa.net/MyApwa/Apwa_Public/About/Awards_Criteria_and_Forms.aspx

A PDF of all the awards criteria and nomination forms can be found on the website above.

APWA Chapter Member Award Categories

APWA Illinois Chapter – Individual Awards/ Public Service Award

The Illinois Chapter will be accepting a nomination from each Branch of the Illinois Chapter to honor anyone serving in public works. This could be a maintenance worker, supervisor, technician, engineer, or legislator. All nominations for this award will be sent to the nominee’s branch and chosen in April.

APWA Project of the Year Awards

This category was established to promote excellence in the management, administration, and implementation of public works projects by recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, the consultant/architect/engineer, and the contractor who working together to complete public works projects. Public works projects must be developed, owned, and maintained by public agencies; nominations of projects can be made by the managing agency or the consultant/architect/engineer. A project may only be nominated once under any category.

Awards are given in four divisions:

  • less than $5 million
  • $5 million but less than $25 million
  • $25 million but less than $75 million
  • $75 million and greater

And are divided into five categories:

  • Structures: to include new public structures or the preservation or rehabilitation of existing public structures including municipal buildings and parks. Other structures as defined in the Historic Restoration/Preservation and Transportation categories shall not be considered in the structures category.
  • Transportation: to include roads, bridges, mass transit that serve any or all modes of travel, including bicycles and foot traffic. Other transportation projects as defined in the Historical Restoration/Preservation and Structures categories shall not be considered in the Transportation category.
  • Environment: to include treatment and recycling facilities, landfill reclamation projects, and sewer projects.
  • Historical Restoration/Preservation: to include historical restoration, preservation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings, structures, and facilities, that are 75 years or older to qualify as historical.
  • Disaster or Emergency Construction/Repair: – to include the techniques and timing for safety, community relations, environmental protection, adverse conditions, and additional considerations.

Projects owned by public agencies with populations of 75,000 or less may be considered for awards in the above categories for Small Cities/Rural Communities (SC/RC); please note that there are no monetary/project cost divisions for the SC/RC award categories.

APWA Professional Service Award Categories

(These awards are National Award Categories.  If interested in submitting, contact Lori Daiber, IL. APWA Awards Chair at ldaiber@civildesigninc.com)

Asset Management – To recognize a team or organization for advancements made in their Asset Management (AM) System. The AM System refers to the global activities of the organization geared toward maximizing the value the community receives from infrastructure assets.

Commendation for Exemplary Service to Public Works – To recognize an elected or appointed government service leader for far-reaching impact on local, state, or national public works programs, services or policies through exemplary public service and commitment. This award particularly recognizes leadership in furthering the mission and goals of public works.

Exceptional Performance Awards – A series of awards to recognize exceptional performance in individuals, teams, or organizations in the areas of Adversity, Diversity, Journalism (non-chapter), Journalism (chapter), Safety and Sustainability whose outstanding contributions in the course of performance raises the level of the public works profession.

  • Adversity: Recognizes exceptional performance in the face of adversity in service to the public. Demonstrates going above or beyond the normal call of service to a situation where the individual, team or organization responded to a condition marked by misfortune, calamity, or distress.
  • Diversity: Recognizes individuals or agencies for exceptional performance and contributions to promote diversity practices. Diversity is not an affirmative action or an equal opportunity program. Diversity values different perspectives and provides a process or program for inclusiveness to all.
  • Journalism (non-chapter): Recognizes exceptional performance in presenting the story of a public works issue or event that projects a positive image of individuals or agencies during their performance in either broadcast or print mediums.
  • Journalism (chapter): Recognizes exceptional performance at the chapter level for their newsletters, magazines and/or other publications and broadcast mediums.
  • Safety: Recognizes exceptional performance in the area of safety.
  • Sustainability: Recognizes exceptional performance that demonstrates outstanding contributions to sustainability in public works. Sustainability is accomplished by the efficient delivery of infrastructure in an environmentally and socially responsible way that ensures the best choice in the long term.

Management Innovation – To recognize an individual, team or organization for the development, management and implementation of a creative idea, program, process, or system that enhances the delivery of public works services to the public. Management innovation is defined as a procedure such as a system, program, or process.

Technical Innovation – To recognize an individual, team or organization for the development, management and implementation of a creative idea, program, process, or system that enhances the delivery of public works services to the public. Technical innovation involves materials, design, and equipment such as pinch valves, a carbon fiber reinforced bridge, etc.

Nomination Submittal Procedures

Preferred Submittal:

Submit using the following Survey Monkey links for the various categories of awards. Use the links as many times as needed for all nominations.

Chapter Member (Individual) Awards: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/APWA-IL-Member

Project Awards: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/APWA-IL-Project

Professional Service Awards: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/APWA-IL-Professional

Alternative Submittal:

Click here to download the 2026 Awards Application and Nomination Form, fill it out (with additional sheets as required), and email to ldaiber@civildesigninc.com or mail your nomination forms to:

Lori Daiber, 1572 Walnut Road, St. Jacob, IL 62281

Also include a photo of the individual nominee and/or each project nominated.

Deadline for Submittal

If you would like your project considered for an APWA National Award, please submit your application to the Chapter by March 2, 2027 (no exceptions).

All submittals for chapter consideration will be due September 25, 2026 (no exception)

We encourage all project awards to be submitted early for an opportunity to be considered for a national award submission.

2026 Award Presentations

Award winners will be announced and presented with a plaque at the 2026 Annual Illinois Chapter Conference Dinner on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.  Winners will receive 3 tickets to the dinner with additional tickets available for purchase. Project award winner’s photos will be featured on future Chapter publications and the Chapter website.

Back to top