The Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) has received full national accreditation from the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the sixth consecutive time. This achievement places Richmond among only 225 accredited public works agencies in the United States and Canada.
Accreditation by APWA is a comprehensive process that evaluates all aspects of a public works department. The process starts with a self-assessment comparing policies, procedures, and operations to national best practices. It is followed by a peer review conducted by experienced professionals who verify compliance through documentation and on-site visits.
Richmond first earned APWA accreditation in 2005 and has maintained it through every four-year review cycle since then. The city’s continued accreditation demonstrates its commitment to ongoing improvement and high standards in public service operations.
“This achievement is a testament to the hard work and professionalism of our Department of Public Works team,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “When we talk about building a Thriving City that works for everyone, this is what it looks like in practice — core services delivered with excellence, accountability, and a focus on residents’ daily experience. Earning this 6th accreditation shows Richmond’s ongoing commitment to running a city that gets the basics right, every single day.”
Odie Donald, Chief Administrative Officer, stated: “Operating in excellence ensures that services ranging from street maintenance to solid waste collection benefits our customers. Maintaining this accreditation, that less than 1 percent of cities receive, is a significant symbol that we are delivering effective and efficient service that benefits every one of our neighborhoods,” says Odie Donald, Chief Administrative Officer. I am excited to see our staff heroes at DPW, who have committed to making Richmond a great place to live and work get the recognition they deserve.”
Bobby Vincent, Director of Public Works added: “Accreditation challenges us to be better every day and keep abreast of the most current industry standards,” said Bobby Vincent, Director of Public Works. “Each cycle is an opportunity to evaluate what we do, how we do it and how we can do it even better for our community.”
The APWA is an international organization with over 30,000 members focused on promoting professional excellence in public works through education and advocacy (https://www.apwa.org/).
For more information about DPW or its programs visit rva.gov/public-works or contact askpublicworks@rva.gov.
