PW Leader of the Year / PW Project Of the Year Excellence Awards

NOMINATION DEADLINE FOR 2026 AWARDS IS APPROACHING FAST!

NOMINATE YOUR PROJECT OR LEADER BEFORE THE DEADLINE LISTED BELOW!

Public Works Project of the Year Excellence Award (Nomination Deadline April 17, 2026)

PURPOSE: The MCAPWA Public Works Project of the Year Award was established to promote excellence in the management, administration, and implementation of public works projects by recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, the consultant/ architect/engineer, and the contractor who working together to complete public works projects. Nomination deadline is April 17, 2026.

Awards are given in four divisions. Please use the agency’s total cost when selecting your division.

• Projects less than $2 million
• Projects less than $5 million
• Projects of $5 million, but less than $25 million
• Projects more than $25 million

And five categories:

• Structures – to include new public structures or the preservation or rehabilitation of existing public structures including, municipal buildings and parks. Other structures as defined in the Historic Restoration/Preservation and Transportation categories shall not be considered in the structures category
• Transportation – to include roads, bridges, mass transit that serve any or all modes of travel, including bicycles and foot traffic. Other transportation projects as defined in the Historical Restoration/Preservation and Structures categories shall not be considered in the Transportation category
• Environment – to include treatment and recycling facilities, landfill reclamation projects, and sewer projects
• Historical Restoration/Preservation – to include historical restoration, preservation, and adaptive reuse of existing buildings, structures, and facilities, that are 75 years or older to qualify as historical
• Disaster or Emergency Construction Repair – to include the techniques and timing for safety, community relations, environmental protection, adverse conditions, and additional considerations.

ELIGIBILITY: Public works projects must be developed, owned, and maintained by public agencies. To be eligible for nomination, a project must have been “substantially completed” and available for public and/or agency use within two calendar years prior to nomination. If a project has multiple phases or segments, then “substantially completed” will be construed as that point when the final phase or segment is 90 percent completed and available for public and/or agency use. Typical Public Works Projects include: Municipal Building or Fleet Maintenance, Solid Waste
Management, Storm Drainage Control, Water or Sanitary Sewerage, Wastewater Treatment, Water Treatment, Erosion Control, Buildings, Handicap Accessibility, Road Rehabilitation/Construction, Wetlands Improvements / Restoration, Park and Playground Construction, Sidewalk Rehabilitation, Beautification Project, Traffic Control, Road / Ditch Maintenance, and other Municipal Projects.

You can read all of the project categories and requirements here, 2026 Project of Year Award Details

The project nomination form is here, 2026 Project of Year Award Nomination Form

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Leader of the Year Award (Nomination Deadline March 6, 2026)

PURPOSE: The Maine Chapter of the American Public Works Association’s Public Works Leader of the Year program seeks to inspire excellence and dedication in public service by recognizing the outstanding career service achievements of individual public works professionals and officials. The primary focus of the award is on career service to the public works profession rather than on any one single event or project.

ELIGIBILITY: It is the intent of this award to recognize the career service accomplishments of Maine public works professionals and officials. Towards that end, candidates with a minimum of 10 years qualifying experience may be nominated from any of the following categories. The candidate must be in active service as of the year he or she is considered. APWA and Maine Chapter APWA membership is required. Officers of the MCAPWA Board of Directors and members of the Awards Committee are not eligible during the time they serve in these positions. Please note that individuals are only eligible to receive the Public Works Leader of the Year on one occasion.

Candidates may come from any of the following three Categories:

1. Any non-elected employee of state, county or municipal government who is responsible for one or more major divisions of a governmental agency. Most of the candidate’s time and efforts must be devoted to the administration and management of the design, construction, maintenance and/or operation of a street or highway system, refuse collection or disposal system, public building, drainage or sanitary sewer system, or any other type of public works installation.
2. Service in an appointed (non-elected) position on a board or commission charged with the oversight or policy level review of public works or infrastructure issues. Such service may have been at the state, county or municipal government level dealing with surface transportation systems, refuse, solid waste, and recycling systems, public buildings, drainage or sewers, or any other type of public works or infrastructure systems. Such positions may typically include Town or City Manager; Public Works Director or Board Member; Road Commissioner; Highway Commissioner; Transportation Commissioner; or other comparable position.