Regional Awards For Excellence

Jessica Beach & Anne Coglianese

This year, a Special Recognition award was presented to Anne Coglianese, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Jacksonville, and Jessica Beach, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of St. Augustine. Together they played an instrumental role in the creation of the Resilient First Coast Collaborative and the development of the Regional Resilience Action Plan.

These efforts reflect what is possible when local leadership, subject-matter expertise, and a commitment to collaboration come together across jurisdictional boundaries. The success of both initiatives would not have been possible without their leadership, their knowledge, and the time they dedicated to building consensus and shared direction for our region.

Community Planning Collaborative for the Durkeeville Revitalization Study

This year’s award recognizes the Durkeeville Revitalization Study, commissioned by the City of Jacksonville and completed by a team led by Community Planning Collaborative. This community-driven, actionable implementation strategy focuses on affordable housing, cultural preservation, economic development, and infrastructure improvements within the historically significant Black neighborhoods of the Durkeeville community.

The study organizes more than 40 projects across short-, mid-, and long-term timeframes and aligns them with the City of Jacksonville’s Capital Improvement Plan and community vision pillars. These efforts address economic development, housing, infrastructure and accessibility, cultural preservation, and community resources.

What makes this initiative especially noteworthy is its foundation in community engagement. The study reflects the input of more than 50 community meetings and workshops and helps guide over $385 million in ongoing and planned investments. In addition to physical improvements, such as park upgrades, housing redevelopment, library expansion, trail connections, and streetscape enhancements, the study also recommends policy changes centered on affordability, heritage, and community control.

Putnam County Chamber of Commerce

This year’s award recognizes the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce for its leadership in advancing economic growth through the Elevate Putnam County Five-Year Strategic Initiative.

In 2024, the Chamber’s Board of Directors launched a capital campaign aimed at strengthening the organization and elevating Putnam County’s economic future. That campaign raised more than $3 million in commitments, laying the financial foundation for organizational transformation and long-term impact. Now just two years into the five-year plan, the results speak for themselves. The initiative has already exceeded its original $500 million investment goal, announcing more than $750 million in capital investment and over 300 high-wage primary jobs. 

Flagler County

This year, we are proud to recognize Flagler County for its continued leadership in the acquisition and management of environmentally sensitive lands. Since 1988, more than half of the funds invested in environmentally sensitive lands in Flagler County have been directed to properties located within its municipalities or within state parks, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to conservation that benefits both residents and visitors.

Since March 2024 alone, Flagler County has acquired an additional 364 acres, including land adjacent to the iconic Princess Place Preserve, expansion areas at Bull Creek to support conservation and recreation, significant acreage within Pringle Forest along Pellicer Creek, and most recently, Intercoastal Waterway frontage property west of the Hammock Dunes Bridge that will be conveyed to the City of Palm Coast to allow for future expansion of Linear Park.

In addition, the County is currently under contract to purchase approximately 3,819 acres, known as the Peterson property, protecting critical wetland and wildlife habitat within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. In 2026, Flagler’s conservation efforts continue with ongoing deals to conserve 35 acres in Marineland and protect 155 acres of floodplain from development, adjacent to the Bulow Creek headwaters.

Protecting environmentally sensitive lands provides lasting benefits, including wildlife and habitat conservation, water resource protection, tourism, recreation, and overall quality of life.

Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville

During disasters and emergencies, the ability of healthcare providers to continue delivering care is critical, not only for patient safety, but also to reduce strain on emergency response and transportation systems. Recognizing this responsibility, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville undertook a comprehensive Flood Mitigation Project to strengthen the hospital’s resilience during severe weather and flooding events.

This forward-thinking approach combines proven engineering solutions with healthcare-specific operational needs, ensuring continuity of care while protecting patients, staff, and vital medical equipment. Through careful planning, and a clear commitment to community safety, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville has set a strong example of healthcare emergency preparedness and resilience.

Nassau County's Vision 2050 Plan

Successful vision planning is essential for local governments as they prepare for future growth. It provides a strategic path forward, establishes clear goals and performance measures, and most importantly, creates opportunities for residents to participate in shaping the future of their communities.

A recent example of this collaborative approach is Nassau County’s Vision 2050 Plan. In October 2023, the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners launched an 18-month, community-driven effort to gather public input and develop a long-term vision to guide growth and development over the next 25 years, which coincided with the County’s 200th anniversary.

Their approach resulted in thousands of community interactions and fulfilled the plan’s guiding principle of “All Voices. One Vision.”

The Vision 2050 Plan was formally adopted by the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners on June 23, 2025, and will now guide future comprehensive planning, capital improvement programming, and long-term fiscal projections.

St. Johns County Sheriff's Office

Specialized training for first responders is critical. It allows agencies to practice real-world scenarios in controlled environments to improve response times, strengthen decision-making, and ultimately saving lives. With the completion of the Tactical Training Facility, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has significantly expanded its ability to prepare officers for today’s complex public safety challenges.

This facility represents the fifth component of the Sheriff’s Office Comprehensive Training Campus and provides flexible, scenario-based training space for more than 540 sworn officers. The 16,000-square-foot facility includes configurable rooms designed to replicate offices, hotel suites, school classrooms, residential spaces, and other environments where deputies must conduct tactical searches, crisis response, and high-risk operations.

Baker County Community Organizations Active in Disaster

When disasters strike, communities across Florida consistently step up to help one another. To manage that support effectively, local emergency management offices often rely on Community Organizations Active in Disaster, or COADs, to coordinate volunteers, donations, and services during times of crisis.

A local example of this success is the Baker County COAD. Under the leadership of Deputy Dennis Schmitz of the Baker County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management, the COAD has brought together key organizations and partners to strengthen disaster readiness and community resilience.

During the 2024 hurricane season, the Baker County COAD successfully coordinated outside assistance to help residents report damage and access services, which resulted in more than $3 million in individual assistance across three storm events.

City of Fernandina Beach Adaptation Plan

Across Northeast Florida, communities are experiencing increased tidal flooding, storm surge, sea level rise, and more intense rainfall events. Preparing for these challenges requires thoughtful planning, data-driven decision-making, and strong public engagement.

The City of Fernandina Beach recently completed a comprehensive Adaptation Plan to address these concerns. Building on the City’s Resilient Florida Vulnerability Assessment, the plan outlines 17 prioritized strategies and 76 action items, supported by implementation guidance, cost considerations, and assigned leadership.

The Adaptation Plan transforms complex flood-risk data into clear, actionable steps designed to protect residents, infrastructure, and the City’s natural, cultural, and historic resources. Public engagement was central to the process, with strong participation in workshops and more than 300 residents completing a community resilience survey, ensuring the plan reflects local priorities.

Clay County Tourism Department - Wheel the World

Creating welcoming and inclusive destinations requires innovation and a commitment to ensuring that all residents and visitors, regardless of ability, can fully experience what a community has to offer. The Clay County Tourism Department has demonstrated this commitment through its partnership with Wheel the World, a global travel accessibility platform.

Through a six-month initiative funded by tourism development tax revenues and a Visit Florida cooperative match, the Department worked with the Wheel the World assessment team to evaluate accessibility across 30 diverse locations throughout Clay County. This initiative has positioned Clay County as a regional leader in inclusive tourism, expanded its visibility through Wheel the World’s global platform, and strengthened connections between local businesses and a growing market of accessible travelers. Supporting an industry that already welcomes 3.6 million visitors annually and sustains nearly 4,000 jobs.