Awards and Recognition

All-America City

The Town of Carrboro has been named a 2025 All-America City by the National Civic League, marking a historic win in the town’s first year applying and competing for the prestigious national recognition. Carrboro has been recognized for its bold commitment to advancing democracy through local action, community partnerships, and inclusive civic infrastructure —the network of relationships, partnerships, and capacities driving effective decision-making and problem-solving.

Bicycle Friendly Community 

Carrboro became the first community in North Carolina to be designated a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. The designation recognizes the Town for its commitment to creating transportation and recreational resources that benefit its residents of all ages and abilities while encouraging healthier and more sustainable transportation choices. 

Tree City USA 

The Tree City USA designation is awarded by the National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, US Forest Service, US Conference of Mayors, and the National League of Cities. This is awarded to recognize communities that have proven their commitment to an effective, ongoing community forestry program based on Tree City USA standards. The people of Carrboro have long seen the health of its tree canopy as vital to their sense of well being and the community’s well being.

Bee City USA 

In October 2014, Carrboro became the third municipality in the country to join Bee City USA.  Becoming a Bee City USA affiliate publicly announces Carrboro’s intention to promote healthy, sustainable habitats for bees and other pollinators. For municipal operations, Carrboro has been pursuing a Least Toxic Integrated Pest Management Policy since the 1990s that recognizes the importance of avoiding and minimizing impacts of municipal operations on pollinators and other species.

The Town of Carrboro receives awards for projects, programs, and services provided to the public, plus positive recognition for the quality of life in our community.  We recognize and celebrate accomplishments by sharing the information below.

2025

  • All-America City – The Town of Carrboro has been named a 2025 All-America City by the National Civic League, marking a historic win in the town’s first year applying and competing for the prestigious national recognition .Carrboro has been recognized for its bold commitment to advancing democracy through local action, community partnerships, and inclusive civic infrastructure —the network of relationships, partnerships, and capacities driving effective decision-making and problem-solving. Learn more. 

2024 

  • Cleantech Innovation Award in Transportation – The Public Works Department was honored in November 2024 for a street resurfacing project that that brings environmental benefits while extending the life of roadway pavements. The result is an integrated approach to roadway management that extends the life of asphalt surfaces while reducing air pollution and battling urban heat. This is a perfect example of Town of Carrboro departments prioritizing climate action goals. The Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster created the annual Cleantech Innovation Awards to recognize cleantech initiatives, projects, and innovations from companies, organizations, and government agencies that have contributed to the growing cleantech ecosystem in North Carolina.
  • Stormwater Division Receives Statewide Recognition – The Town of Carrboro Stormwater Division along with collaborating partners received the Project of the Year Award from the 2024 American Public Works Association – North Carolina Chapter in September 2024. The project recognized is the EPA 319 Grant Project in Bolin Forest, which received the Natural Systems Project of the Year. The construction of the regenerative stormwater conveyance (RSC) was made possible through the collaboration of many partners working together to restore an eroding ephemeral channel that flows into Bolin Creek. This project is part of the bigger picture in restoring the Bolin Creek Watershed.
  • National Award for Resident Satisfaction -- The Town of Carrboro has been recognized with a national award for outstanding resident satisfaction. The Town received the “Leading the Way Award” from ETC Institute in recognition of local governments for outstanding achievement in the delivery of services to residents. Recipients of the award rank in the top 10% of all local governments in the United States. (September 2024)
  • Resident Participation and Other Communication Programs Recognized with Top National Honors – The Town of Carrboro earned top national awards in the Savvy Awards competition of the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) in September 2024.  The Town of Carrboro won three awards in categories of Resident Participation, Most Creative Activity with Least Dollars Spent (Braxton Foushee Day), and Campaign Outreach to Diverse Audiences (Carrboro in Motion). A Savvy, the first place award, was given for the Bolin Creek Greenway community engagement project. With a goal of equitable engagement, this outreach effort placed emphasis on reaching those who are most often marginalized in these conversations. Town communication and engagement staff worked with El Centro Hispano and the Refugee Community Partnership to conduct canvassing to increase survey participation among immigrants and refugees. 
  • Honors for Communications and Community Engagement – Recognized by the NC City and County Communicators Association (NC3C) in April 2024, Communications & Engagement received a second-place award in the category of Citizen Participation for the Bolin Creek Greenway Community Engagement project. In addition, Carrboro won a second-place award for the Bilingual (English/Spanish) 2024 Calendar. 

2023 

  • Comprehensive Plan Awarded as Best in State -- The American Planning Association-North Carolina Chapter (APA-NC) has recognized the Town of Carrboro with the Marvin Collins Award for a Comprehensive Plan developed for a community of less than 25,000 population.  (September 2022) https://northcarolina.planning.org/community-outreach/2022-apa-nc-award-winners/ 
  • National Award for Resident Satisfaction -- The Town of Carrboro has been recognized with a national award for outstanding resident satisfaction. The Town received the “Leading the Way Award” from ETC Institute in recognition of local governments for outstanding achievement in the delivery of services to residents. Recipients of the award rank in the top 10% of all local governments in the United States. (August 2022) 
  • Resident Participation Program Recognized as Best in State -- The Communication & Engagement Department won two first place awards in Citizen Participation for Carrboro in Motion Fest/Festival de la Comunidad en Movimiento and Most Creative with Least Dollars Spent for Bilingual Calendar in the North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) 2023 Excellence in Communications Awards. Carrboro (May 2023) 
  • Language Access Program Receives State Grant -- To improve communication and leadership of immigrant and refugee residents, the Town of Carrboro was awarded a grant and yearlong partnership with the Building Integrated Communities (BIC) initiative at the Institute for the Study of the Americas. A team comprised of UNC BIC staff, representatives from the Town of Carrboro, and the Refugee Community Partnership will bring stakeholders together to write and implement a language access plan. (May 2023) 

2022

  • Resident Participation Recognized as Best in State -- The Town of Carrboro won a first place award in Citizen Participation for the Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan and a second place award for Most Creative with Least Dollars Spent for Small Town Pride Video in the NC City & County Communicators (NC3C) 2022 Excellence in Communications Awards. (May 2022). 
  • LGBTQ+ Programs Receive Highest Score -- The Town of Carrboro received a score of 100 in the 2022 Municipal Equality Index (MEI). Since 2014, the Town has been rated by the Human Rights Campaign in their annual report of the MEI. The index examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality. More at www.hrc.org/mei (May 2022)
  • Services to Address Equity Awarded Best in State -- The Town of Carrboro was among 13 municipalities recognized by the NC League of Municipalities Local Leadership Foundation in its 2022 Annual Awards program. Carrboro was recognized with an Honorable Mention for its Town Information Center project in the Direct Reflection category. This category recognizes municipalities that have adapted their approaches or changed services or practices to address inequity in an area of concern for the community. (May 2022) 
  • Top 5 Small Arts Towns -- In a special report, 24/7 Tempo named Carrboro one of the country’s Top 5 Small Arts Towns. The town shares the honor with such creative outposts as Santa Fe, N.M., and Marfa, Texas. (March 2022) 

2021

  • Most Creative -- The City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) presented the Town of Carrboro with the Award of Excellence for Town Information Centers in the Most Creative Activity with Least Dollars Spent category. (September 2021).  The program was initiated by the Communication & Engagement Department and implemented by the Public Works Department. 

2019

  • Excellence in Financial Reporting -- The Town of Carrboro received an award for exceptional financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The award is the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019.