Awards & Accolades

Department accreditations

Communications Division: Certificate of Excellence, Florida Municipal Communications Association (FMCA)

Finance Department: Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)

Fire Rescue District: Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (pending); Fire Accreditation (pending)

Parks & Recreation Department: Commission for Accreditation of Parks & Recreation Agencies (CAPRA),National Recreation & Park Association

Police Department: Quadruple Excelsior Accredited, Commission for Florida Law Enforcement; Certificate of Excellence, FMCA

Department of Public Works: American Public Works Association certified

Utilities Department: ISO 55001 asset management standards (pending)

2024 Awards

Silver Circle Savvy Award, City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) for Overall Website, Communications Division

Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), Finance Department

Outstanding Award - Florida Municipal Communicators Association (FMCA) for FY23 Annual Report, Communications Division

Outstanding Award - FMCA for 2024 Communications Strategy, Communications Division

Golden Image Award - Florida Public Relations Association, for Digital Tools - Website, Communications Division

National Gold Medal Award Program Finalist - Excellence in Park and Recreation Management from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, Parks & Recreation Department

Workplace Well-Being Award - Aetna, Human Resources Department

The Bell Seal in Workplace Mental Health - Mental Health of America, Human Resources Department

SUNsational Award, 1st Place - Florida Festivals & Events Association (FFEA) for annual Impact Report, Parks and Recreation Department

SUNsational Award, 2nd Place - FFEA for “Go Green with Parks” initiative, Parks and Recreation Department

SUNsational Award, 2nd Place - FFEA for Woofstock promotional flyer, Parks and Recreation Department

SUNsational Award, 2nd Place - FFEA for Event Safety/Risk Management Plan for the Poinsettia Parade & Festival, Parks and Recreation Department

Silver Circle Award, Savvy Awards - City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) for Overall Website, Communications Division

2024 Accolades

No. 1 on list of Up-and-Coming Small Cities, The Hill

No. 1 on list of Up-and-Coming Cities for the Upper Class to Live in 2024, Yahoo Finance

No. 7 on list of 15 Most Affordable and Safe Small Cities, MoneyGeek

No. 1 on list of Most Up and Coming Small Cities in the U.S., MoneyGeek

No. 21 on The South's Best Cities on the Rise 2024, Southern Living

No. 1 fastest-growing U.S. city on LinkedIn Workforce Report for January 2024

No. 9 on list of Top 10 Master-Planned Communities for 2023 Sales (Wellen Park), RCLCO

No. 13 on list of Top U.S. Growth Cities of 2023, U-Haul

No. 1 fastest-growing city in Florida, Insider Monkey

2023 Awards

First Place - Wyland National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation

Gold Award - Aetna Workplace Well-being 

Gold Winner Award - Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health 

Distinguished Budget Presentation Award - GFOA for FY22-23 budget

First Place - Children's Program: MONDA Swim from Florida Festival & Events Association (FFEA)

First Place - Best Web Resource for NorthPortFL.gov/Alerts from the Florida Municipal Communicators Association

Top Ranking - Counsilman-Hunsaker Aquatic Examiner Services for the North Port Aquatic Center

Second Place - Granicus Digital Government Award in "Community Engagement" category for Hurricane Ian response

2023 Accolades

No. 2 Fastest-Growing U.S. City, Quicken Loans

No. 7 fastest-growing U.S. city in 2023 Metro Rankings, Business Facilities

No. 1 fastest-growing U.S. city on LinkedIn Workforce Report for December 2023

No. 10 on list of Best U.S. Metros to Start a Business in High-Growth Sectors (No. 1 in Healthcare & Social Assistance), The Credit Review

No. 1 U.S. city in tech job growth, The Brookings Institution

No. 1 U.S. city on 2023 Talent Attraction Scorecard, Lightcast

No. 6 on list of Top 10 Metros Homebuyers Are Moving Into, by Net Inflow, Redfin