Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Jeremy Bennett attended the July 21 Board of Supervisors meeting to present to the County its first ever VACo Achievement Award.  The Achievement Awards program is an annual, competitive award program recognizing counties for innovation, cooperation, and model practices.  Clarke County was recognized for its communication program including social media, the electronic ClarkE-news, and the Citizens Academy.  The County's Facebook page has over 11,000 followers who enjoy regular content such as the Pet of the Week, Throwback Thursday, and the Monthly Myth Buster.  The electronic newsletter is delivered to over 1,000 residents each month and includes short articles on relevant community matters.  The Citizens Academy recently completed its fifth cohort of citizens who met once a month for nine months to learn about the inner workings of County government.  This included meeting local officials, visiting the regional landfill, sewer and water plants, regional jail, and hearing presentations from different county departments. 

Board Chair David Weiss stated, "The County is very excited to receive our first ever VACo Achievement Award in recognition of our communication efforts."  County staff members Indea Ford, Catherine Marsten, Julia Merriner, and Chris Boies were thanked for their work contributing to the program's success.