Public Works Department earns perfect-score reaccreditation

Public Works Department earns perfect-score reaccreditation

Published on June 04, 2026

The City of Gainesville Public Works Department has earned full reaccreditation from the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the fifth time, achieving a 100% compliance rating during its 2026 review and reaffirming the department's commitment to nationally recognized standards of excellence in public service.

The APWA National Accreditation Program evaluates public works agencies against recognized best practices in management, operations and service delivery. During the reaccreditation process, Gainesville demonstrated proficiency in all 103 management practices selected for review by APWA evaluators.

"What this shows is that our department has systems in place to consistently deliver high-quality public service," said Gainesville Public Works Director Gail Mowry. "Our team plans, designs, constructs and operates streets, sidewalks and bike trails. We also manage stormwater, the urban tree canopy and solid waste. All of this contributes to our community's quality of life."

The new recognition comes at a busy time for the department. Over the past year, Gainesville's Public Works has completed the Northwest First Street and Northwest First Avenue stormwater and road reconstruction, installed new sidewalks along Southwest Fifth Avenue and Southwest 10th Street, and launched Vision Zero safety improvements along Southwest Sixth Street. Most recently, the team started work on the Glen Springs Creek Restoration Project.

"Every reaccreditation reflects years of effort by employees throughout the department to document, strengthen and improve the way we do things," said City of Gainesville interim Chief Operating Officer Brian Singleton, who previously served as the department director. "The process requires agencies to demonstrate that best practices are embedded in their daily work. Achieving full compliance confirms the professionalism of this team and their commitment to serving Gainesville residents."

Areas that were evaluated include leadership, planning, infrastructure management, environmental stewardship, safety and customer service. The APWA accreditation program promotes continuous improvement and accountability by helping public works agencies benchmark their performance against nationally recognized standards.

Gainesville's Public Works is one of 227 accredited public works agencies in North America and Canada. It is one of 42 accredited agencies in Florida. Gainesville's last APWA reaccreditation was received in 2022.

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