Thousands of Public Works Professionals Will Share Their Stories During National Public Works Week (#NPWW), May 18–24, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KANSAS CITY, MO—Each year across North America, the American Public Works Association’s (APWA) 32,000 members celebrate with the general public the positive impact public works has on communities during National Public Works Week (NPWW). This year NPWW will be held the week of May 18–24, 2025, to honor public works professionals who plan, design, build, manage, and operate the infrastructure that ensures a higher quality of life for millions of families throughout the US and Canada. Recognized each year during the third week of May, NPWW was instituted as a public education campaign by APWA in 1960—and proclaimed as such by President John F. Kennedy in 1962—to call attention to the importance of public works in community life.

This year’s theme, People, Purpose, Presence, encapsulates the qualities that public works professionals bring to their jobs every day. Communities may not take much notice of the dedication of public works professionals because they just quietly do their jobs without fanfare. Yet, public works is always there, working behind the scenes to advance quality of life for all.

Public works professionals make our daily lives function in fundamental ways that we don’t always recognize or appreciate. They provide infrastructure and services in transportation, water, wastewater and stormwater treatment, public buildings and spaces, parks and grounds, emergency management and first response, solid waste, and rights-of-way management. Our communities are dynamic places to live and work because public works is ever present.

“We’ve set aside this week for 65 years to celebrate the work done by public works,” said APWA President Dominick A. Longobardi. “People often don’t realize that public works is impacting our lives from the moment we brush our teeth in the morning to the moment we turn off our lights at night. This week is our chance to share our stories and let the people we serve know more about the services we provide and how committed we are to making our communities vibrant places to live.”

Recognizing Public Works Contributions

“Celebrating National Public Works Week is the highlight of my year. As I travel throughout North America, I see the hard work that our public works professionals perform. If everything is working the way it should, no one knows they are there. That is why during NPWW especially we celebrate the men and women who perform these incredible tasks that keep the public safe and healthy. Our members continue to advance the quality of life for all on a daily basis,” said APWA CEO Scott D. Grayson, CAE.

Resolutions and proclamations by governors, provincial premiers, mayors, and other city and county officials in the US and Canada mark NPWW celebrations, events, and activities. During this special week, celebrations recognize and honor public works professionals and include name-a-snowplow contests, parades, open houses, displays of public works equipment, community picnics, programs for civic organizations, and media events.

In addition, the Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year award, which recognizes exceptional public works professionals each year, has been a cornerstone of NPWW since its beginning. Each of the Top Ten Leaders is recognized for their accomplishments in federal, state, provincial, county, or municipal engineering or administration, including career advancement, contribution to technology or job knowledge, and commitment to the profession as evidenced by education, training, certification, and continuing education, as well as professional excellence and service to the community in large and small municipalities. The program has identified hundreds of men and women who reflect the highest standards of professional conduct for public works professionals.

For more information about NPWW, visit the website at www.apwa.org/npww, or contact Jared Shilhanek, APWA Chief Growth Officer, at jshilhanek@apwa.org, or phone at (816) 595-5257.

Please read APWA Reporter magazine at www.apwa.org and follow @AmericanPublicWorksAssociation on LinkedIn and @APWAGovAffairs on X to watch for more APWA news.