Leon County Wins Twelve State and National Awards for Outstanding Public Relations
Leon County Government has been honored with twelve state and national awards for outstanding public relations from the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), the National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO), and the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA). The County set a new record for most statewide awards received from FPRA in the County’s history and nearly twice as many awards as any other single agency or organization, with six Awards of Distinction, one Judges’ Award and the Leon County Community and Media Relations (CMR) team being awarded with the Government Team of the Year Silver Pinnacle Award. Additionally, the County earned two NACIO Awards of Excellence, with both awards receiving the Best of Category designation.
"The 2025 award-winning projects reflect Leon County Government’s steadfast commitment to providing timely, relevant, and engaging communication for all the citizens we serve,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Brian Welch. “Our communication efforts continue to set a high standard, reaching citizens in innovative, impactful ways that keep them informed and connected.”
The Florida Public Relations Association is the oldest public relations organization in the United States, dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. Honoring top communications teams in the region, FPRA’s Annual Golden Image Awards exemplifies public relations excellence in the state of Florida. Leon County was the most-awarded organization—public or private—at the 2025 FPRA Golden Image Awards. From over 100 entries submitted by public relations agencies and teams across the state, Leon County was recognized for the following award-winning projects:
- Leon County 2024 Annual Report Video, Award of Distinction in the category of Video – Institutional under Digital Tools of Public Relations
- Leon County Bicentennial Community Cookbook, Award of Distinction in the category of Specialty Item under Collateral of Public Relations
- Leon County Bicentennial Library Card, Award of Distinction and Judges’ Award in the category of Specialty Item under Collateral of Public Relations
- TEAM Leon Promotional Plan, Award of Distinction in the category of Crisis Communications under Public Relations Programs
- Leon County Government Library Lecture Series: Bicentennial Beginnings, Award of Distinction in the category of Special Event under Public Relations Programs
- Teddy Bear-a-medic Video, Award of Distinction in the category of Digital Communications under Student Projects in Public Relations
- Leon County Community and Media Relations, Government Team of the Year Silver Pinnacle Award
As an active affiliate of the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Association of County Information Officers works to promote the value of professional Public Information Officers and communicators to county governments. With its annual awards program, the NACIO honors innovative, creative, and outstanding work of county government communicators and state county associations' communications departments throughout the nation. Out of more than 200 entries from county governments and communicators nationwide, Leon County earned awards for the following projects:
Founded in 1988, the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) is the nation's premiere network of local government communicators. 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. Leon County was recognized for the following award-winning projects:
- Leon County Public Library Website Redesign, Award of Excellence in the category of Digital Interactive under Communications and Marketing Tools
- TEAM Leon Promotional Campaign, Silver Circle Award in the category of Plans under Communication and Marketing Processes
“Leon County is committed to working alongside our residents to deliver exceptional services,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. “Our collaborative approach to shaping our community relies on strong, effective communication between the County and those we serve. The Community and Media Relations team consistently finds new ways to gather feedback, promote transparency, and connect citizens to the wide range of programs and services the County offers.”
Leon County Community and Media Relations (CMR) prepares and disseminates Leon County news and information via news releases, notices and other publications, and manages news conferences and events. CMR meets the changing needs of the community through proactive communications across multiple platforms including mass communications, graphic design, special events, social media and so much more.
“This recognition from state and national organizations is a testament to the creativity, professionalism, and dedication of our Community and Media Relations team,” said Kianna Gilley, Leon County Public Information and Communications Manager. “These awards speak volumes about the exceptional work our team delivers every day to inform, engage, and connect with our community.”
For more information, please contact Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at (850) 606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.
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