Charleston receives full accreditation from APWA

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Charleston is the first city in South Carolina to have received accreditation from the American Public Works Association.

The accreditation validates that the city is in full compliance with the management practices issued in the APWA’s Public Works Management Practices Manual. It also acknowledges the operation and management of the public works agency, its programs and employees, the city said in a news release.

Though Charleston was awarded the accreditation in January 2020, in-person recognition from the APWA was postponed as a result of the pandemic. On Tuesday, Mayor John Tecklenburg recognized the Public Service department at the Charleston City Council meeting.

“The Public Service Department has dedicated itself to continuous improvement and excellence, and the heroes of this accomplishment are the employees whose mission is to provide services and programs that contribute to making the City of Charleston a great place live and work,” Director Tom O’Brien said.

Accreditation will help in the future with “continuous improvement of operations and management, and in providing a valid and objective evaluation of programs as a service to the public and the profession,” the news release said.