Special to 1808Delaware
The City of Delaware announced today that its 2024 Paint a Plow program received an Award of Excellence for “Marketing and Tools: Government Service Delivery/Community Issue” from 3CMA, a national City, County Government Communications Organization.
The City of Delaware’s “Community Canvas Paint a Plow Program” creatively merges art, education, and public service. Each fall, students from five elementary schools design and paint City snowplows, which are then showcased at the November First Friday festival, where thousands of attendees vote for their favorite. The plows are later deployed in the schools’ geographic areas, allowing students to see their work in action. This program enhances public awareness of snow and ice removal operations, fosters civic pride and strengthens relationships between City staff and the community.
“It’s an honor to win an Award of Excellence from 3CMA and do so for the second consecutive year,” Community Affairs Director Lee Yoakum said. “To be recognized by our peers across the country in local government communications is truly special.”
The awards, held in conjunction with 3CMA’s Annual Conference, honor outstanding local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing, and resident-government relationships. The program salutes skilled and effective city, county, agency, and district professionals who have creatively planned and executed successful innovations in communications and marketing.
This year, more than 1,100 entries across 37 categories were submitted, showcasing the best work from local governments of all sizes and budget classes. Entries were evaluated by professional communicators from across the country, who reviewed each submission and provided constructive feedback to award winners.
“The Savvy Awards truly showcase the best of the best from local government communications professionals from across the country,” said Scott Lehtonen, Executive Director of 3CMA. “What makes the Savvies so meaningful is that every entry is reviewed and judged by peers who understand both the challenges and the creativity required to effectively engage communities.”
Along with Yoakum, the award-winning team also includes Communications Specialist Bob Hogensen. The Delaware communications team was also honored by 3CMA in 2024 for its “On Patrol” police officer recruiting video series.
The City-County Communications & Marketing Association is the nation’s premiere network of local government communicators. The organization was founded in 1988 on the philosophy that communications and marketing are essential to helping governments engage and build stronger relationships with their residents.
Source: City of Delaware
