Major Infrastructure Projects:

• September, 2025: Leon County invests $3.5 million to transform more than 30,000 square feet of the Main Library’s second floor. The space now offers 15 meeting and gathering spaces, a workforce hub, a recording studio, and a CAT Excavator simulator, making Leon
  County one of only two library systems in the nation to offer it.
• May 10, 2023: Leon County’s new Visitor Information Center and Gift Shop opens in the historic train station at 918 Railroad Avenue.
• May 1, 2023: Leon County Government unveils the County’s first fully ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible playground in the Fort Braden community.
• 2022: The $2.7 million Chaires 60/90 baseball field is completed with dugouts, bull pens, batting cages, and bleachers as well as a paved parking area, landscaping, sidewalks, and drainage improvements.
• April 30, 2022: Leon County Government unveils the Fort Braden History Walk, creating an engaging and interactive way for residents and visitors to explore the history of the Fort Braden community.
• August 10, 2021: Leon County unveils the County’s first fully ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) complaint park, Parwez “P.A.” Alam Park, in recognition of former County Administrator Parwez Alam’s 22 years of dedicated public service and leadership.

Significant Achievements:

• January, 2026:  Leon County welcomes the world to Apalachee Regional Park for the 46th World Athletics Cross Country Championships, marking the event’s first return to the United
  States in more than 30 years.

• 2024: Leon County celebrates its bicentennial.

• September 2023: The Amazon Fulfillment Center opens in Leon County. The $200 million, 630,000-square-foot facility was projected to bring more than 1,300 full-time jobs and $33 million in annual wages to the community, with a $114 million economic impact each year.

• November 2021: Leon County hosts the 2021 NCAA Cross Country National Championships at Apalachee Regional Park.
• April 13, 2021: The Leon County Board of County Commissioners adopts a resolution establishing the day after Thanksgiving as Family Day, a testament to the community's commitment to celebrating the importance of families, unity, support, and love.

• September 29, 2020: Leon County Government becomes the first county in Florida to officially recognize Florida Emancipation Day as a County holiday.
• January 1, 2020: A new Blueprint penny sales-tax program begins. Of the sales tax generated, 12% is directed to economic development, and 66% supports the implementation of 27 infrastructure projects. The remaining 22% is directed to Leon County and the City of Tallahassee.

Key Community Initiatives:

• September, 2026: Leon County hosts the 15th Annual 9/11 Day of Remembrance and Service, honoring the victims, survivors, and others who rose in service in response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. 
• November, 2024: Leon County and the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida dedicate the Leon County Courthouse in honor of the Honorable Judge Augustus D. Aikens, Jr., renaming the building the Judge Augustus D. Aikens, Jr. Leon County Courthouse.
• November 22, 2023: The Bruce J. Host Northeast Branch Library is dedicated in honor of former District 4 Commissioner Bruce J. Host.
• February 2023: The library distributes its millionth seed through the Seed Library program.
• July 2020: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Leon County establishes the Leon CARES program, which is later recognized as a national model for the distribution of aid to those hit hardest by the pandemic. Leon CARES leveraged more than $138 million in federal funding to address the community’s most urgent needs.

• March 2020: Leon County begins COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
• January 27, 2020: The Leon County Board of County Commissioners adopts the Leon County Public Library System’s Essential Libraries Initiative. This initiative outlines refocused priorities and action items aimed at enhancing the offerings of the library and ensuring its continued significance within the community.

Leon County Awards & Recognition

2026

• National Association of Counties - Eight Achievement Awards for:
  • World Athletics Cross Country Championships
  • Miccosukee Community Center Revitalization
  • Family Resource Centers; Road Closure Response & Awareness Platform
  • Mental Health Matters – Peer Support Program
  • Volunteer Management Training Series – Volunteerism Reimagined
  • Building Safer Infrastructure Through Unified Engineering Standards: Leon County’s Infrastructure Engineering Standards and Guidelines Manual
  • Shaping Growth Together: Leon County-Tallahassee Comprehensive Plan Update Multi-Phase Public Engagement Strategy
• American Heart Association: Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold with target Heart Attack Honor Roll
• American Planning Association: Florida Project Award of Merit for the Upper Lake Lafayette Trail
• American Public Works Association - Florida Chapter Project of the Year Award for the Tallahassee-Leon County Animal Services Center, Florida Chapter Project of the Year Award for the Northeast Lake Munson Septic to Sewer Conversion and four Big Bend Chapter Project of the Year Awards for:
  • Main Library Second Floor Renovations
  • Northeast Lake Munson Septic to Sewer
  • Centerville Road Turn Lane at Harpers Ferry Drive
  • Magnolia Drive Trail: Phase II
• City-County Communications and Marketing Association: Silver Circle Award for the Miccosukee Community Center History Wall
• Digital Counties Survey: Placed first in Florida and tenth nationwide in the 250K-500K population category
• Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA): Award of Distinction for the Citizens Connect App and Emergency Information Portal; Award of Distinction for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26 Library Card
• Florida Sports Foundation: 2026 Mid-Market Sporting Event of the Year Award for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships
• Government Finance Officers Association: Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
• International Economic Development Council: 2025 Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award in Real Estate Reuse & Development for SoMo Walls and Bronze Award for Economic Equity & Inclusion for the Black Business Expo Tallahassee
• Institute of Transportation Engineers: 2025 Planning Project of the Year for Lake Jackson Greenway Phase I
• National Association of County Information Officers: Three Awards of Excellence for the 2025 Leon County Courier, Emergency Information Portal, and Re-issued Truth in Millage Notice
• Women Veterans Unite: Outstanding Service Award

2025

• National Association of Counties - Seven Achievement Awards for:
  • TEAM Leon
  • Sustainable Yard Debris Management Program
  • Family Heir Property Support Program
  • Lake Munson Action Plan
  • Affordable Housing and Home Buyer Support Initiative
  • Leading the Way for Family Day
  • Leon County Website Relaunch
• American Heart Association: Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold with Target Heart Attack Honor Roll
• American Library Association: PR Xchange Awards for 2024 Summer Reading Booklet and 2024 Essential Libraries Initiative Booklet
• American Planning Association Florida Chapter: Award of Excellence for Best Practices for the Southside Action Plan
• American Public Works Association – Florida Chapter Project of the Year Award for the Lake Jackson Greenway Phase 1 and seven Big Bend Chapter Project of the Year Awards for:
  • History and Culture Trail, Florida Keystone Court Trash Screen Project
  • Blountstown Highway Safe Route to School (SRTS) Sidewalk Improvements Project
  • Fred George Park Wetland Restoration Project
  • Maylor Road Drainage Improvement Project
  • Miccosukee Community Center – Concord School Renovations Project
  • St. Marks Headwaters Greenway, Buck Lake Road Trailhead Project
• American Society of Civil Engineers: Tallahassee Branch Project of the Year for the Northeast Gateway (Welaunee Boulevard)
• City-County Communications & Marketing Association: Silver Circle Winner for TEAM Leon Promotional Campaign and Award of Excellence for Leon County Public Library Website Redesign
• Digital Counties Survey: Placed first in Florida and eighth nationwide in the 250K-500K population category
• Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) - Pinnacle Award – Silver for the Government Team of the Year, Judges' Award for the Bicentennial Library Card and six Golden Image Awards of Distinction for:
  • 2024 Annual Report
  • Bicentennial Community Cookbook
  • Bicentennial Library Card
  • TEAM Leon Promotional Campaign
  • Library Lecture Series: Bicentennial Beginnings
  • Teddy Bear-a-medic Video
• Government Finance Officers Association: Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
• International Economic Development Council: 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award for the Economic Development Organization of the Year and Bronze Award for Economic Equity & Inclusion for the Amazon Tallahassee Robotics Fulfillment Center
• National Association of County Information Officers: Best in Category awards for TEAM Leon and 2024 Annual Report Video
• Survive & Thrive Advocacy Center: Imagine Freedom Gratitude Award
• Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation: Preservation Communications & Media Award for the History & Culture Trail

2024

• National Association of Counties - Achievement Awards for:
  • Crosswalks to Classrooms – Dempsey Mayo Road Initiative (Designated “Best in Category”)
  • Historic Amtrak Building Renovation and Site Reconstruction
  • Leon County-Tallahassee Bicentennial Celebration
  • Septic Upgrade Incentive Program
  • Combating Food Insecurity
  • EMT to Paramedic Trainee Program
  • North Monroe Revitalization Efforts
  • Risk and Safety Management Enhancements
• American Public Works Association - Three Big Bend Branch Project of the Year Awards for:
  • Ben Boulevard Drainage Improvements Phase 2
  • North Gadsden Street Sidewalk Improvements
  • Visitor Information Center
• American College of Cardiology: EMS Partner in Care
• American Heart Association: Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold with Target Heart Attack Honor Roll
• City-County Communications & Marketing Association: Awards of Excellence for 20 Years of Exceptional Medical Services video and Leon Works Expo
• Digital Counties Survey: Placed first in Florida and fourth nationwide in the 250K-500K population category
• Government Technology: 2024 Best of Florida Award for Best IT Collaboration
• Florida Economic Development Council: 2024 Regional Deal of the Year for the Amazon Robotics Fulfillment Center Project
• Florida Municipal Insurance Trust: FMIT Partnership Insurance Leader Award
• Florida Planning and Zoning Association: 2023-2024 Outstanding Development and Design Excellence Award
• International Economic Development Council: 2023 Silver Excellence in Economic Development Award for the OEV newsletter
• Government Finance Officers Association: Distinguished Budget Presentation Award with special recognition for the Strategic Goals and Strategies category and the Budget Process category
• Florida Public Relations Association - Awards of Distinction for:
  • 2023 Annual Report
  • “Leading the Way” Leon County History Kiosk
  • 2023 Leon Works Expo
  • Leon County Courier Summer 2023 Edition
  • Library Lecture Series: Rhythms of Panama
  • 20 Years of Exceptional Emergency Medical Services
• State Housing Initiatives Parternship: New Construction Award for the Homeownership Development Program
• Tallahassee Memorial Hospital: Community Service Impact Award
• Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation: Historic Preservation Award, Preservation Education Award and two Organization Achievement Awards

2023

• National Association of Counties - Achievement Awards for:
  • Council on the Status of Men and Boys
  • Hired on the Spot
  • Leon County Children's Services Council
  • Leon County Libraries' Autism Awareness Initiative
  • Leon County Uses Artificial Intelligence with GIS Imagery Data to Improve Safety for First Responders
  • Re-Entry Job Placement Assistance Initiative
  • Summer Backyard Bucket List
  • SustainaBiz
• American Heart Association - Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Award, recognizing efforts to enhance STEMI (heart attack) Systems of Care, ultimately elevating the quality of care provided
• City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) - Savvy Award for Hired on the Spot
• International Economic Development Council (IEDC) - Gold Award for the Leon County/FAMU Federal Credit Union SmartSteps Microloan Program
• Digital Counties Survey - Placed first in Florida and fifth nationwide in the 250K-500K population category
• Florida Department of Health - EMS Provider of the Year
• Government Finance Officers Association - Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
• Call 2 Recycle - Top 100 Leader in Sustainability
• American Public Works Association - Florida Chapter Public Works Project of the Year award and three Big Bend Branch Project of the Year Awards for Tram Road Culvert Replacement, Smith Creek Road Bike Lane, and the Magnolia Drive Project.
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection - Trail Town designation
• Florida Sports Foundation - Mid-Market Event of the Year for the 2021 NCAA D1 Cross Country National Championship
• Tallahassee Veterans Outreach - Special Recognition Award for 10 years of veteran benefits services
• Florida Public Relations Association - Award of Distinction and Judges' Award for Tackling Poverty and Inequities in 32304 brochure and Image Award for the 2022 Annual Report video

2022

• National Association of Counties - Achievement Awards for:
  • Art of the Box; Capital Area Sustainability Compact
  • Community Human Services Partnership Enhancements
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
  • Essential Libraries Initiative
  • Leon County-Tallahassee Community Land Trust
  • “Love Your Local” Small Business Promotion Campaign
  • SmartSteps Microloan Program
  • Sundown Concert Series Partnership
• American Public Works Association - Florida Chapter Public Works Project of the Year award and five Big Bend Branch Project of the Year awards
• Digital Counties Survey - Placed 1st in Florida and 4th nationwide in the 250K-500K population category
• Florida Association of Counties - Best Practices Award for www.LeonCountyWater.org
• Florida Public Relations Association - Grand All Image Award for Hired on the Spot; Grand Image Award for Leon County Vax Map; Image Award for Leon County Vax Map, Hired on the Spot, and Created Equal; Judges’ Award for Leon County Vax Map and Hired on the Spot; and Award of Distinction for the Essential Libraries Initiative brochure
• Government Finance Officers Association - Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
• American Heart Association - Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award, recognizing efforts to enhance STEMI (heart attack) Systems of Care, ultimately elevating the quality of care provided
• City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) - Silver Circle Award for Gator Graphic: A Guide to Social Distancing
• International Economic Development Council - Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award for OEVforBusiness.org, Data Driver, and the Minority, Women and Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) Division
• Florida Library Association - Friends Special Projects Award for the Friends of the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library’s Library of Things
• Tallahassee Women Lawyers - Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award for Created Equal

2021

• International Economic Development Council - Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award
• City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) - Certificate of Achievement in Performance Management for the Quarterly Economic Dashboard
• North America Hazardous Materials Management Association Florida Chapter - Outstanding Partnership with Habitat for Humanity and Smarter Sorting
• Call2Recycle - Leader in Sustainability Award for Battery Collection and Recycling Program
• Florida Public Relations Association - Image Award for Gator Graphic on Social Distancing; Image Award for Tire Amnesty Days
• American Public Works Association - APWA Accreditation; Best Practices in Personnel Rules, Policies and Procedures Manual
• Florida Association of Counties - Best Practices Award
• City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) - Savvy Award Finalist for Gator Graphic
• National Association of Counties - Best in Category Award for Created Equal
• National Association of Counties - Achievement Awards for:
  • COVID-19 Communications and Public Information
  • “Make it Count” Census Education and Awareness Campaign
  • Leon CARES; COVID-19 Economic Disaster Relief Grant Program
  • COVID-19 Local Emergency Assistance for Nonprofits Program
  • Short-Term Vacation Rental Safety Plan
• Government Finance Officers Association - Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
• American Heart Association - Mission: Lifeline Gold Plus Award, recognizing efforts to enhance STEMI (heart attack) Systems of Care, ultimately elevating the quality of care provided.
• State Housing Initiatives Partnership - State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program Award
• Government Technology - Placed 7th in the 250K-500K Population Category

2020

• National Association of Counties - Achievement Awards for:
  • #HurricaneStrong Partnership
  • Advanced Wastewater Treatment Pilot Program
  • Advisory Committee on Quality Growth
  • Apalachee Regional Park Master Plan and Landfill Conversion
  • Choose Tallahassee Marketing Partnership
  • Community Garden Program Enhancements
  • Integrated Sustainability Action Plan
  • Livable Infrastructure for Everyone (LIFE) Program
  • Neighborhood Services Webpage
  • SMARTIES Committee
  • Workforce Development Services through Leon County Libraries
• American Public Works Association - Transportation Project of the Year Awards for Indian Mounds Road and Environmental Project of the Year Award for Woodside Heights Wastewater Retrofit
• American Public Works Association - Big Bend Chapter Award Beautification Project of the Year: Orange Ave/Meridian Road Site Improvements
• Digital Counties Survey - Placed 5th in the 250,000-500,000 Population Category
• Florida Association of Counties - 2020 “Counties Helping Counties Award”
• Florida Public Relations Association - Award of Distinction for Leon County Created Equal: 60th Anniversary of TLH Lunch Counter Sit-Ins
• Government Finance Officers Association - Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
• SolSmart - Gold Community Designation
• Southern Living Magazine - Top-10 Best City and Top College Town
• Arbor Day Foundation - Tree City USA Designation