Thurston County earns 19 NACo awards, dominates in Washington 

Thurston County won 19 achievement awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) this year, the most of any county in the state of Washington.

The county also won the only Best of Category award for its volunteer-driven “Fix-It Fair” program. 

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) recognized the achievements at a meeting on Tuesday, July 29.  

“First of all, congratulations to all you for all of these achievements and bringing these awards back here to Thurston County, and I believe we were the most recognized county in Washington state. That really speaks a great deal about the work that's being done here,” said Commissioner Carolina Mejia at the meeting.

Below is a list of the award-winning programs: 

1. Your Neighbors, Your Elections

The Auditor’s Office Elections Division produced a series of three videos featuring staff working inside the Ballot Processing Center. 

The program ran on social media and county platforms to counter misinformation and build transparency and voter trust. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission also awarded the campaign a national Clearinghouse Award for voter education efforts. 

2. Elections Security Enhancement Program

The Auditor’s Office earned a Department of Justice Byrne JAG grant to improve physical security at the Ballot Processing Center. The upgrades included fireproof, bullet-resistant doors, bulletproof sheetrock, ballistic-resistant glass and a fortified safe room for election staff.  

3. Saturday Passport Fairs

The Auditor’s Licensing Division organized two Saturday fairs to handle the surge in passport demand before the May 2025 REAL ID deadline. The program processed 71 passport applications and 55 photos in partnership with Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland’s district office and Seattle Passport Agency. 

4. Voting Access at Your Library

The Auditor’s Elections Division worked with the Timberland Regional Library System to expand voter access during the 2024 General Election. Four libraries in Olympia, Tumwater, Tenino and Yelm provided registration and ballot replacement services, while the Lacey branch served as a voting center staffed by county election employees. 

5. Public Transit Partnership for Voter Access

The Elections Division partnered with Intercity Transit to reduce transportation challenges on Election Day. The program extended bus routes past 8 p.m. The program also added gravel paths for Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility near the voting center, and plans a covered bus shelter for future elections. 

Intercity Transit also updated route maps to include ballot drop box locations. The Elections Division used Intercity Transit's Community Vans Program to move staff and supplies between county facilities that cut costs by 50%  

6. Habitat Conservation Plan

The Community Planning and Economic Development Department established a conservation plan to meet federal Endangered Species Act requirements and support local development. The program provides a 30-year incidental take permit and covers prairie and riparian habitats and specie,s such as the Mazama pocket gopher, Oregon spotted frog and Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly. 

7. Healthy Habits Food Program

The Emergency Preparedness and Response Team within Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) manages this program to improve food security. The office coordinates with the Washington State Department of Agriculture and local food banks to close supply gaps during emergencies. 

This program also supports the county’s emergency preparedness strategy by integrating food systems into disaster planning. 

8. QPR Suicide Prevention Program

The Behavioral Health Division of PHSS administers this suicide prevention training. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, Refer. The program partners with school districts, Thurston County Suicide Prevention Coalition and other local groups for outreach. 

9. Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR)

The Maternal and Child Health Unit within PHSS developed the FIMR program. The office reviews cases of fetal and infant deaths, conducts interviews with parents, and analyzes medical records to identify gaps in care. Recommendations target systemic improvements for hospitals and health agencies. 

Board Chair Tye Menser called the program “mind-blowing” during the July 29 meeting and praised PHSS for advocating infant health. 

10. Resource Hub

The Pretrial Services Department launched this program at the Thurston County Courthouse Complex to help individuals with behavioral health needs and justice system involvement. The county partnered with the Dispute Resolution Center, Community Action Council and behavioral health providers to deliver services. All services are free and voluntary, and help stabilize individuals before crises escalate. 

11. BoostLingo Language Access

The Language Access and Equity Program within PHSS introduced BoostLingo to improve multilingual support for public health services. This cloud-based platform provides real-time interpretation in more than eight languages, including Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog and American Sign Language (ASL). 

From December 2024 to July 2025, the tool facilitated 75 Spanish calls, nine ASL video sessions, and numerous sessions in Mandarin, Arabic and other languages. 

12. Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)

The Medical Reserve Corps program is a community-based volunteer network that trains medical and non-medical professionals to support public health during disasters. Members assist in local emergencies, such as flooding, influenza outbreaks and statewide health crises, including the COVID-19 response. 

13. Fix-It Fair (Best of Category Winner)

The Solid Waste and Sustainability Program within the Public Works Department runs Fix-It Fair. The event gathered locals together with volunteer “fixers” who repaired broken household items like appliances, lamps and small electronics. The program reduces landfill waste, and promotes practical repair skills. After a strong turnout in 2024, the next Fix-It Fair is scheduled for Nov. 5. 

14. Recreational Trail Partnerships

The Parks and Trails Division of Public Works partnered with City of Yelm, City of Tenino and other jurisdictions to maximize state and federal trail grants. The collaboration pools resources for major rehabilitation projects. The trails supported by this program boost regional connectivity and promote outdoor recreation tourism. 

15. Water and Sewer Utility Consolidation

The Water Resources Division of Public Works combined three water systems and four sewer systems into two consolidated utilities effective January 2024. The project reduced 11 separate budget allocations into four accounts and adopted a five-year blended rate schedule. 

16. Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program

The Engineering Division of Public Works leads this project that addresses public concerns about speeding by installing physical safety measures, such as speed humps, mini traffic circles and raised crosswalks. By the end of 2025, the county expects to complete 34 speed humps, three circles and one raised crossing in six neighborhoods.  

17. Noxious Weeds Landowner Assistance Program

The Noxious Weeds Control Board, operating under Public Works, developed this program to help landowners eliminate invasive knotweed. The service provides licensed herbicide application and technical support for property owners who cannot manage the plant on their own. 

18. Tax-Title Property Outreach

The Thurston County Treasurer’s Office initiated a mailing campaign to market idle tax-title properties to property owners. The program encourages private purchase of parcels that previously generated no tax revenue. This program is a model for how counties can manage tax-title inventories effectively. 

19. PHSS Workforce Program

The Human Resources and Workforce Development Team inside PHSS launched this project to improve recruiting, onboarding and retention for public health employees. The program introduced tools like NEOGOV and standardized orientation processes to speed up hiring. The program also positions PHSS as a competitive employer in the state’s public health sector. 

According to NACo, the achievement awards are “more than just recognition” and are acknowledged to boost innovative county programs that improve governance and public services. 

NACo said the recognition puts counties in the national spotlight and credits public servants for pioneering effective and efficient service delivery and public outreach. 

Menser said the awards serve as a nod to county employees for their innovation and quality programs. He also said it's also proof of county government’s impact to improve quality of life in all aspects of public service. 

“These things are worth are worth elevating so people know what their government’s up to, besides what the commissioners are up to, because we’re only involved in a small fraction of what actually, Thurston County is doing for the community,” Menser said.