Prince William County Earns Four VACo Achievement Awards, Including Best Large County Award

The Virginia Association of Counties, or VACo, has announced the recipients of its 2026 Achievement Awards, recognizing innovative and impactful local government programs across the Commonwealth. Out of 103 submissions statewide, Prince William County earned four Achievement Awards this year, including the Best Large County Achievement Award for the Prince William County Regional Crisis Receiving Center Complex. 

The VACo Achievement Awards program recognizes excellence in local government programs and services that address community challenges, improve operations and enhance quality of life for residents. This year’s winning entries focused on public safety, community development, health and innovative solutions to challenges faced by local governments throughout Virginia.

Prince William County’s award-winning programs highlight the county’s continued commitment to innovation, public service and community engagement.

“Prince William County is always looking for creative, forward-thinking ways to serve our residents and strengthen our community,” said County Executive Chris Shorter. “Earning four VACo Achievement Awards, including the Best Large County Achievement Award, reflects the dedication, collaboration and innovation happening across Prince William County government every day.” 

The following Prince William County programs received 2026 VACo Achievement Awards: 

Best Large County Achievement Award – Crisis Receiving Center Complex 

Prince William County’s Regional Crisis Receiving Center Complex earned VACo’s Best Large County Achievement Award for its innovative approach to behavioral health crisis care. The first-of-its-kind facility in Northern Virginia was created to address growing pressures on the region’s behavioral health system by providing immediate, high-quality crisis intervention services closer to home. The CRC is also recognized as an innovative, nationally recognized care model due to the co-location of services between Community Services and partner Connections Health Solutions, allowing for seamless transitions in care and helping ensure individuals leaving crisis care remain connected to ongoing support services. As of March 2026, the center had served 883 individuals, significantly improved access to behavioral health care across the region, reduced lengthy emergency department psychiatric wait times by 66 percent and decreased law enforcement hours spent on psychiatric calls. 

PWC311 – Transforming Public Service Delivery 

Prince William County earned an award for PWC311, the county’s centralized omnichannel customer service platform designed to simplify access to government services. Launched in May 2025, the platform integrates web, mobile, phone and AI-powered support into a single point of entry for residents. In its first eight months, PWC311 managed more than 63,750 interactions while maintaining a 90 percent service request closing rate and an average call answer time of 13 seconds. 

Internship Program Marketing Campaign 

Prince William County earned a VACo Achievement Award for marketing its countywide internship program. The campaign used a targeted, student-centered strategy, including the creation of a dedicated Instagram account, to raise awareness of internship opportunities and encourage students to explore careers in public service. The initiative produced significant growth in applications, increasing from 231 applications in 2024 to 495 applications in 2026, an increase of more than 114 percent. The initiative also successfully expanded outreach, increased engagement and provided interns with meaningful, hands-on communications experience. 

Senior Safe Program 

Prince William County earned a VACo Achievement Award for its Senior Safe Program, which is run by the Sheriff’s Office and helps connect seniors with emergency assistance through wearable emergency response devices. The program provides participants with a direct and reliable connection to emergency contacts during critical situations. Participation in the program grew significantly in 2025, expanding from 15 active clients to 95, while continuing to enhance technology and accessibility for participants. 

The VACo Achievement Awards program is open to all Virginia local government members of the association and highlights programs that can serve as models for other localities across the state. 

To learn more about Prince William County’s 2026 VACo Achievement Award-winning programs, visit the 2026 Achievement Awards Entries webpage.