Host a Certificate Program at Your Chapter
Discover the many benefits of hosting a certificate program at your chapter and get everything you need to put on a successful event. Learn more.
Questions can be sent to education@apwa.org.
It’s National Preparedness Month. Will you share your experience with us?
September is National Preparedness Month, which provides an important platform to help elevate public works.
Please submit your articles throughout September; rolling submissions are welcome, and early contributions receive greater visibility. If you prefer to share your expertise through an interview format, we are happy to facilitate that as well. Send all inquiries and articles to kwhite@gtscoalition.com. Questions can be directed to Marty Williams at mwilliams@apwa.org.
APWA Brand Video—Public Works: A Kid’s Perspective
We need your help to increase visibility of public works! Please share our new, fun, and engaging 2025 brand video on your chapter’s social channels or website. Public Works: A Kid’s Perspective shows how children see the everyday heroes who keep our cities safe, clean, and thriving. From building parks to repairing roads, hear their fun and heartfelt answers about what public works is and why it’s important. This video celebrates the people, purpose, and presence of public works in our communities.
Need some help posting the video on your chapter site? Reach out to chapterservices@apwa.org.
APWA Committees have released the following new materials available for free in the APWA Resource Center
Share these resources with your chapter committees, work groups, and members.
Onboarding Toolbox: This resource is packed with templates, best practices, and helpful articles to make onboarding smoother, more consistent, and more engaging. (Workforce Development Committee Retention Knowledge Team)
Bridging the Gap: Connecting Communities with Public Works: This project includes strategies, tools, and resources that increase public awareness, foster engagement, and build long-term support for public works efforts. (2024–2025 ELA Class Project)
A Hands-On Guide to Emergency Management for Public Works Agencies: This is a step-by-step guide is for public works professionals navigating today’s complex emergency management landscape. (2024–2025 ELA Class Project)
APWA Committees are looking for volunteers for new project initiatives
Share the following opportunities if you have a committee in your chapter focusing on a similar area or members in your chapter that may have an interest in volunteering.
UPROW Permitting Working Group
In response to the growing demand for broadband and the complexity of utility Al coordination, the UPROW Committee is exploring the formation of a working group focused on permitting and fiber optic cable installation. This group would bring together public works professionals to identify best practices, common obstacles, and innovative permitting solutions. Please email Kristen Strobbe at kstrobbe@apwa.org if you’re interested in joining.
Facilities Guidebook and Grounds Guidebook
The Facilities and Grounds Committee is developing two guidebooks: one on facilities and the other on grounds. If you are interested in volunteering on one of these guidebook work groups, please email Ashley Scherzer at ascherzer@apwa.org for more detailed information.
APWA Accreditation Announcements
Accreditation is the mark of professionalism, indicating a public works agency has made the commitment to continuous improvement in the delivery of public works operations and services in the community it serves. Accreditation recognizes an agency’s policies, procedures, and practices that have been evaluated against nationally recognized management practices determined to be appropriate for that specific agency.
The American Public Works Association is thrilled to announce the accreditation of the following public works agencies for August 2025:
Region 4
- St. Petersburg, Florida Public Works Administration—2nd accreditation
Region 8
- Henderson, Nevada Public Works Department—3rd accreditation
Please help us recognize their hard work and dedication to providing excellent public services. Potential ways to recognize them may be a mention in your newsletter or your website, asking them to present at your chapter conference, posting on social media, or other ideas specific to your chapter.
For further information on the APWA accreditation program, please feel free to contact Jeanette Klamm, Associate Director of Accreditation, at accreditation@apwa.org.
Save the date for 2026 NPWW reception
To once again coincide with National Public Works Week (NPWW) 2026 (May 17–23), the APWA Government Affairs Team will be hosting its second reception to honor 2025’s Top Ten Winners/Project of the Year Winners. We invite you to save the date for NPWW and hope you will consider joining us to celebrate your award. The reception is a prime opportunity to meet with your member of Congress, network with your APWA colleagues, and educate federal officials about the important contributions of public works to our country’s well-being and economic prosperity. This week will also include the opportunity to participate in all APWA-sponsored events and activities as well as to have a personal meeting with your member of Congress.
Questions can be sent to Jeff Finegan at jfinegan@apwa.org.
Insurance 101
As you begin to plan for your 2026 events, please review the APWA insurance infographic located in Chapter Leader Resources – Finance.
There were several questions raised around insurance during the February Chapter Leader Training and Council of Chapters meeting. The feedback was shared with both APWA’s legal counsel and insurance company. Below should clarify all outstanding questions:
- Restaurants: For chapter monthly luncheons at restaurants, APWA does NOT need contracts. In fact, it is better if the chapters do not have contracts with a restaurant as it allows for more flexibility. The restaurant will have insurance if someone is injured at the restaurant. As for alcohol, the restaurant will already have a license to serve alcohol and should have insurance for this as well. We do not need to see a contract for meetings held at restaurants.
- Golf Outings and Alcohol: As long as the golf facility allows people to bring their own alcohol and give it out to others for free, that is permitted. So, for those chapters with sponsors who want to give out alcohol at the individual holes, that is permissible as long as the golf course allows it.
- If event space is being used (other than restaurants), chapters will need to send APWA a contract to ensure they will be insured.
- If a license is required to serve alcohol at an event, the chapter must have a contract in place for the event space (even a parking lot) to serve alcohol or hire a third party that is insured to serve the alcohol. Requirements vary by state, but typically a liquor license or permit is required to sell alcohol at private or public events. APWA’s insurance will not provide coverage if the chapter serves/sells alcohol to guests at such events regardless of whether or not the chapter actually obtains a liquor license or permit to do so.
- Alcohol can be given out in a hospitality suite assuming the hotel allows it.
If you have specific questions, please contact chapterservices@apwa.org.
APWA Monthly Chapter Leader Training
The next APWA Chapter Leader Training will be held on October 13, 2025 at noon CT. The topic will cover chapter collaboration with LTAPS.
Past Chapter Leader Training calls can be viewed by clicking here.
Invitations are sent to all chapter leaders approximately two weeks prior to the call. Questions can be sent to Jill Wilbeck.
