Awards

The City of Suwanee is proud that many of its initiatives and projects have earned regional, state, and national awards and certification over the past several years.

  • Best New Event, Gold, for 2012 Suwanee's Super Incredible Race, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2013)

  • Best Sponsor, Gold, for Suwanee Day sponsor Lewis Expo and Logistics, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2013)

  • Best Event Photo, Silver, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2013)

  • Best T-Shirt, Bronze, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2013)

  • Beat Creative Idea, Bronze, for Suwanee Day volunteer pocket guide, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2013)

  • Best Vendor/Supplier, Bronze, for Suwanee Day vendor FunFare, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2013)

  • Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for fiscal year 2013 budget, Government Finance Officers Association (2013)

  • Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, Government Finance Officers Association, 2011 Annual Report (2012)

  • Certificate of Distinction for superior performance management efforts from the International City/County Management Association; one of only 15 jurisdictions throughout the country to receive such recognition (2012)

  • Best New Event, Gold, for 9-11 Commemorative Event/'Remembrance' Unveiling, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2012)

  • Best Event within an Event, Silver, for 2010 Suwanee Day Flash Mob, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2012)

  • Community Impact – Community Arts Program Award for Suwanee SculpTour, presented by ArtWorks! Gwinnett (2012)

  • 2012 Trendsetter Award for public arts initiative, presented by the Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Trend magazine

  • Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for fiscal year 2012 budget, Government Finance Officers Association (2012)

  • Innovative Marketing Award, presented by Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau (2011)

  • Best Image Building Campaign for Suwanee SculpTour, Georgia Downtown Association (2011)

  • Voice of the People Awards for Excellence (for overall services and parks) from the International City/County Management Association and National Research Center (2011)

  • Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, Government Finance Officers Association, 2010 Annual Report (2011)

  • Special Recognition Award for Suwanee’s Municipal Court for program innovation and creation of software for improvement of efficiency and productivity, Council of Municipal Court Judges (2011)

  • Certificate of Distinction for superior performance management efforts from the International City/County Management Association (2011)

  • Honor Award for Engineering Excellence from the Georgia Engineering Alliance for implementation of pedestrian HAWK beacon at Town Center Avenue (2011)

  • Best Festival (with a budget under $75,000), Silver, for Suwanee Day, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2011)

  • Best Volunteer, Silver, for Suwanee Day Transportation Chair Doug Schwendy, Southeast Festivals and Events Association

  • Best Green Component, Bronze, for Suwanee Day, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2011)

  • Best Event within an Event, Bronze, for Chalk Walk at Arts in the Park, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2011)

  • Suwanee Day named to Top 20 Events for September 2011 by the Southeast Tourism Society

  • Best Green Government, Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful (2011)

  • Program of the Year - Suwanee Municipal Court, Georgia Council of Court Administrators (2010)

  • Clerk of the Year – Court Services Administrator Mariza Abdeljawad, Georgia Municipal Court Clerk’s Council (2010)

  • Certificate of Distinction for efforts and results in performance measurement and management from the International City/County Management Association; one of only 18 jurisdictions throughout the country to receive (2010)

  • Award of Excellence (third place) from the City-County Communications and Marketing Association for Suwanee’s “edgy” ad campaign. (2010)

  • Award of Excellence (third place) from the City-County Communications and Marketing Association in Most Creative Activity with Least Dollars Spent category for Get It in the Gateway. (2010)

  • Award of Excellence (third place) from the City-County Communications and Marketing Association in the Social Media category for Suwanee’s Facebook page. (2010)

  • Best Sponsor, Gold – Ippolito’s, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2010)

  • Best Event Photograph, Bronze – Human Aerial Art/City Hall Grand Opening, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2010)

  • 2009 CREATE Community Award from the Atlanta Regional Commission in the Application and Innovation in Technology category for utilizing social media as a tool to engage citizens

  • Green Community “bronze level” certification, Atlanta Regional Commission (2009)

  • Development of Excellence for Town Center, Atlanta Regional Commission (2009)

  • Golden Shoe Award from PEDS for HAWK Pedestrian Signal (2009)

  • Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, Government Finance Officers Association, 2009-10 budget presentation (fourth consecutive year)

  • Finalist (among communities with populations less than 20,000) for the 2009 International Association of Chiefs of Police/CISCO Community Policing Award

  • Voice of the People Awards for Excellence (in recreation programs/classes and parks areas) from the International City/County Management Association and National Research Center (2009)

  • Best Farmers Market, Nickelodeon's 2009 Parents' Picks Awards

  • Best Playground or Park (PlayTown Suwanee), Nickelodeon's 2009 Parents' Picks Awards

  • Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association, 2007-08 comprehensive annual financial report (sixth consecutive year)

  • Certificate of Distinction for efforts and results in performance measurement and management from the International City/County Management Association; one of only 18 jurisdictions throughout the country to receive (2009)

  • Ranked #35 on Money magazine's list of Best Places to Live 2009

  • Best Event Within an Event, Gold – BodyPlex’s World’s Largest Outdoor Spin Class at Party in de Park, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2009)

  • Best Event Volunteer – Events Under $75,000 (Melissa Fernandez), Gold – Suwanee Day 2008, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2009)

  • Best Event Website, Bronze – www.suwaneeday.com,  Southeast Festivals and Events Association  (2009)

  • Best Miscellaneous Merchandise, Bronze – Suwanee Day 2008 Commemorative Poster, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2009)

  • Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, Government Finance Officers Association, 2008-09 budget presentation (third consecutive year)

  • Savvy Award (first place) from the City-County Communications and Marketing Association for Play hard. Live well. Smile more!, Suwanee's resident guide.

  • Silver Circle Award (second place) from the City-County Communications and Marketing Association for marketing strategies developed for America's Best Places to Live recognition.

  • 2008 Georgia Downtown Award in “Best Problem-Solving” category for Town Center, Georgia Downtown Association and Georgia Department of Community Affairs

  • Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association, 2006-07 comprehensive annual financial report (fifth consecutive year)

  • Inspiration Award, Open Space Initiative, Park Pride (2008)

  • Public Safety Unit of the Year, Criminal Investigation Unit, Gwinnett Chamber 2008 Valor Awards

  • Bronze Medal of Valor, Sgt. Dwayne Black, Gwinnett Chamber 2008 Valor Awards

  • Best Event Photo, photo of 2007 Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concert at Town Center Park, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2008)

  • Best Event Sponsor (Primrose Schools of Suwanee), Suwanee Day 2007, Southeast Festivals and Events Association  (2008)

  • Best Event Volunteer (Kim Towne), Suwanee Day 2007, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2008)

  • Best Event Within an Event, Sail-A-Bration at Suwanee Day 2007, Southeast Festivals and Events Association (2008)

  • Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, Government Finance Officers Association, 2007-08 budget presentation (second consecutive year)

  • Innovative and Effective Planning Process, Mixed-Use Development Assessment, Georgia Planning Association (2007)

  • Ranked #10 on Money magazine's list of Best Places to Live 2007.

  • Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association, 2005-06 comprehensive annual financial report (fourth consecutive year)

  • Recognized as Georgia Certified City of Ethics, Georgia Municipal Association (2007)

  • Accredited National Main Street Program, National Trust for Historic Preservation (2007, fourth consecutive year)

  • Award of Merit, Town Center Park, American Society of Landscape Architects, Georgia Chapter (presented to landscape architect jB + a, 2007)

  • Kaleidoscope Award, Best Event Within an Event (under $75,000) for Art on a Limb, presented by Southeast Festivals & Events Association (2007)

  • 2007 Trendsetter Award (third consecutive year) in the parks and recreation category, presented by the Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Trend magazine

  • Savvy Award (first place) from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association for Art on a Limb for Most Creative Activity with Least Dollars Spent (2006)

  • Silver Circle Award (second place) from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association for Art on a Limb for Best Use of a Promotional Item (2006)

  • Award of Excellence (third place) from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association for CrossRoads newsletter (2006)

  • 2006 Georgia Downtown Award for Most Creative Fundraising for Better Parks Campaign, Georgia Downtown Association and Georgia Department of Community Affairs

  • 2006 Georgia Downtown Award for Best Downtown Special Event for Suwanee’s Big Splash, Georgia Downtown Association and Georgia Department of Community Affairs

  • Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, Government Finance Officers Association, 2006-07 budget presentation

  • Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event for September 2006 -  Suwanee Day Festival

  • Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association, 2004-05 comprehensive annual financial report (third consecutive year)

  • Accredited National Main Street Program, National Trust for Historic Preservation (2006, third consecutive year)

  • 2006 Trendsetter Award (second consecutive year) in “Hearing Voices: Community Input in City Government” category, presented by the Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Trend magazine

  • 2005 CREATE Community Award from the Atlanta Regional Commission in the Community Building category for building parks and a stronger community and particularly the PlayTown Suwanee effort (second consecutive year)

  • 2005 Georgia Downtown Award for Outstanding Organizational Outreach for PlayTown Suwanee community build, Georgia Downtown Association and Georgia Department of Community Affairs

  • 2005 Governor’s Challenge Award, third place, Governor’s Office of Highway Safety

  • Sportsmanship Award, Division B, Lloyd-Bennett Gwinnett Corporate Challenge (September 2005)

  • Accredited National Main Street Program, National Trust for Historic Preservation (2005, second consecutive year)

  • Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association, 2003-04 comprehensive annual financial report

  • 2005 Trendsetter Award in Economic and Community Development for Town Center, presented by the Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Trend magazine

  • Re-certification of the Suwanee Police Department by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (January 2005)

  • 2004 CREATE Community Award from the Atlanta Regional Commission for the Open Space Initiative (environmental sustainability category)

  • Georgia Downtown Award for Best Design Improvement for Town Center Park (2004)

  • Best Plan Implementation from the Georgia Planning Association for Town Center/Town Center Master Plan (2004)

  • Silver Circle (second place) Award from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association for the community playground brochure (2004)

  • Silver Circle (second place) Award from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association for the Suwanee Soiree (special events category) (2004)

  • Award of Excellence (third place) from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association for the Suwanee Soiree (most creative activities with least dollars spent category) (2004)

  • Accredited National Main Street Program, National Trust for Historic Preservation (2004)

  • Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association, 2002-03 comprehensive annual financial report

  • Occupant Protection Award from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (2004)

  • First-Time Entry Award from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (2004)

  • Best Local Festival for Suwanee Day 2003, as voted by Gwinnett Daily Post readers

  • Best Greenspace Plan from the Georgia Urban Forest Council for the Open Space Initiative (presented in November 2003)

  • Award of Excellence (third place) from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association for CrossRoads newsletter (2003)