Six county-led programs from Kentucky receive 2025 NACo Achievement Awards

Since 1970, the NACo Achievement Awards have recognized outstanding county government programs and services. Through a non-competitive application process, noteworthy programs receive awards in 18 categories that cover a vast range of county responsibilities. 

Learn more here. 

Category: Civic Education and Public Information 

Program: Cumberland County Civics Club and County Internship Program 

The fiscal court has taken a unique approach to combat “brain drain” and encourage young people to get involved with and stay in their community. The county's civics club, formed in January 2024, serves as a feeder program for a county internship program. Students can now interact and work with officials at the local, state, and federal level. The club operates with the same roles as a county fiscal court (i.e. judge/executive, magistrates, county attorney, etc.). The club meets twice per month and invites fiscal court members to attend and hear directly from the youth. Similarly, club members attend fiscal court meetings and give monthly reports to the public on their initiatives. The county’s civics club and internship program have allowed local youth to engage in community organizations, serve on boards, visit the state Capitol building, and even travel to Washington D.C. to see democracy operate at the highest level. 

Cumberland County Judge/Executive Luke King: “This award is the product of a forward-thinking fiscal court and one of the most talented groups of young leaders in the state. I know it’s cliché to say, but this kind of program and these kinds of results don’t happen without every team member doing their part and a little extra. We are so fortunate to have that kind of team!” 

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety 

Program: Bullitt County Mental Health Court 

Bullitt County Mental Health Court was developed by Bullitt County Attorney Tammy Baker with the support of the Bullitt County Fiscal Court. Participants in the program are misdemeanor or Class D felony offenders with significant mental illness. In the program, participants receive mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment if needed, workforce development/education, housing assistance and community support to become productive residents and to break the cycle of offend-arrest-release-repeat. Participants come to the program as referrals from arresting officers who see that there is a mental health issue, from the jail staff when they observe a mental health issue, from prosecutors in the courtroom, from the public defender's office, and even from family/victims of the defendant. Once referred, staff meet with the defendant and assess mental health needs and desire to be in the program. The defendant is then assessed by UofL Health. 

Bullitt County Attorney Tammy Baker: “The goal of Bullitt County Mental Health Court is to get people working, get them paying their own way and paying taxes, reconnecting with families and children, thereby setting a new course for generations to come. We did not create this model, but this is the first time we have had a program like this in Bullitt County. I believe we are the only program in the Commonwealth that is funded completely with Opioid Settlement funds, meaning no taxpayer dollars are used to fund this program.” 

Category: Health 

Program: Net Recovery Device Treatment Program /Scott County Fiscal Court 

This program is for the delivery of Neuro Electric Therapy (NET) services to those in Scott County who struggle with substance abuse disorder. This service is administered using the FDA-cleared NET Device™ from NET Recovery Corp. Participating county residents engage with the program through the county detention center or a residential rehabilitation center. An NRC representative prescreens potential participants for qualification and helps coordinate their admission into the program. Following admission, participants receive NET treatment as delivered by NRC staff. The treatment intends to help those suffering from substance abuse by transitioning them from drug use to abstinence with minimal discomfort from withdrawals. 

Scott County Judge/Executive Joe Pat Covington: “We are proud that the Net Recovery Device Treatment Program has been recognized by the National Association of Counties Achievement Award Program as one of only six programs in Kentucky to receive this honor. This award brings national attention to the innovative work happening here in Scott County and highlights the potential of the NET Device™ to help individuals struggling with addiction make the transition to recovery with minimal withdrawal symptoms. It is a testament to our commitment to offering effective, compassionate solutions to one of our most pressing public health challenges.” 

Category: Information Technology 

Program: Best IT Collaboration Among Organizations 

The hardincountyky.gov website reimagine initiative, in partnership with CivicPlus, aims to modernize the county’s official website to improve accessibility, user experience, and online service delivery. This project will create a more intuitive, mobile-friendly, and visually appealing platform that meets the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors while ensuring government transparency and efficiency. 

Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul: “We’re honored that Hardin County’s Website Reimagine Project has been recognized nationally. This achievement reflects our commitment to building a responsive, accessible, and transparent government that puts our residents first. Through this initiative, we've created and continue to improve a user experience that matches the excellence of our community that reinforces Hardin County’s identity as a great place to live, work and play.” 

Category: Information Technology 

Program: Sixty Years Project 

The Sixty Year Project mandates Kentucky county Ccerks to digitize 60 years of legal records by 2026, using advanced technology to improve access. This initiative preserves historical records while making them easily available to the public, legal professionals and researchers, enhancing transparency and efficiency in the process. 

Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw: “Our Sixty Years Project makes land records dating back to 1966 easier for the public to access online. Thank you to my incredible team and our partners at ArcaSearch for helping us better serve Jefferson County.” 

Category: Libraries 

Program: Jefferson County Property Valuation Administrator Library Programs 

The Jefferson County Property Valuation Administrator assesses all taxable residential and commercial property on a rolling four-year basis in Jefferson County, Kentucky, the state’s most populous county. To raise awareness and successfully issue accurate assessments, Younger has hosted an annual series of public meetings and in-person appeal assistance events at Jefferson County Free Public Library branches since 2022, reaching thousands of taxpayers. Since taking office in December 2018, a primary focus for Younger has been to improve public understanding of the role of Jefferson County PVA and the right to appeal property assessments to meet the agency’s mission: to provide fair and equitable assessments with best-in-class customer service for property owners in Jefferson County. The Jefferson County PVA received its third NACO Award in three years.   

Jefferson County PVA Colleen Younger: “The Jefferson County PVA’s office never misses an opportunity to showcase our leadership, achievements, staff, and the opportunity to assist a taxpayer. This program is part of a broader strategy in fulfilling our core value of ‘Best In Class Customer Service.’” 

Harlan County, Harlan County Drug Summit 

Jefferson County, PVA Office – You Have a Right to Appeal 

Madison County, Tracks: A digital revolution and paperless government in Madison County, Ky.

Jefferson County, Motor Vehicle Online Appeal 

Lee County, Operation Simba 

Boone County, African Americans of Boone County Initiative 

Boone County, Kentucky Local History Thesaurus Project 

Boone County, Read With a Teen 

Boone County, Northern Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy 

Hardin County, Lowering the Euthanasia Rate of Shelter Animals