Carrollton Wins American Public Works Association Award

The City of Carrollton's Marketing Services, in partnership with the City's Engineering Department, was honored to receive the Exceptional Performance Award in Journalism by a team from the American Public Works Association (APWA) Texas Chapter.

Engineering and Marketing staff were present at the 2026 TX-APWA's Public Workshop in Fort Worth to receive the award, which recognizes exceptional performance in presenting the story of a public works issue in both broadcast and print mediums.

"The Carrollton Engineering Department nominated the Marketing Services team for its efforts with engineering's new quarterly Behind the Build newsletter," Director of Engineering Jonathan Wheat said. "Marketing staff helped with designing the template, creating the marketing plan for the campaign, and converting the details of complex capital projects into information residents can actually use. They are also instrumental in converting this information into the Mayor's State of the City Address delivered twice a year and sharing this information with the public as milestones are reached."

Carrollton's Behind the Build series covers facilities, mobility, parks and trails, and neighborhood reinvestment, which helps the public see the whole system rather than a single project in isolation. In practice, Wheat believes this reduces frustration, increases predictability, and strengthens confidence that the City is delivering on its commitments.

"The program serves Carrollton residents and businesses, neighborhood leaders, City Council, partner agencies, and prospective vendors who benefit from a concise and reliable picture of the City's public works and capital improvement projects," Marketing Director Kelli Lewis said. "The information further emphasizes City Council's goal of continuing to present Carrollton as the place that families and businesses want to call home."

The work demands equal parts dedication and creativity. The marketing team listens to community feedback, refines the format, and coordinates across departments so every issue and video reflect both journalistic integrity and technical accuracy.

"Most importantly, from both a marketing and an engineering standpoint, the program builds trust," Wheat said. "By showing real people doing real work and connecting that work to daily life, City teams have created a dependable, human-centered communication touchpoint that reduces uncertainty, improves transparency, and strengthens the connection between City Hall and the community."

The City of Carrollton's Engineering department currently has 77 active projects in various stages of design and construction. The goal of the newsletter and accompanying videos is to provide brief updates on major active projects and other items within the department.

For a complete list of City accolades, visit cityofcarrollton.com/awards-accolades.