Prince William County received four Achievement Awards from the Virginia Association of Counties, or VACo, according to a May 21 announcement. The county was also recognized with the Best Large County Achievement Award for its Regional Crisis Receiving Center Complex.
The VACo Achievement Awards highlight innovative programs and services that address community challenges and improve operations in local governments across Virginia. The awards aim to showcase efforts that enhance quality of life for residents and can serve as models for other localities.
Chris Shorter, Prince William County Executive, said, “Prince William County is always looking for creative, forward-thinking ways to serve our residents and strengthen our community. Earning four VACo Achievement Awards, including the Best Large County Achievement Award, reflects the dedication, collaboration and innovation happening across Prince William County government every day.”
The Regional Crisis Receiving Center Complex was recognized as a first-of-its-kind facility in Northern Virginia providing immediate behavioral health crisis intervention services. As of March 2026, it had served 883 individuals and reduced emergency department psychiatric wait times by 66 percent while decreasing law enforcement hours spent on psychiatric calls. Other honored programs include PWC311—a centralized customer service platform launched in May 2025—managing over 63,750 interactions with a high closure rate; an internship program marketing campaign that increased applications by more than double between 2024 and 2026; and the Senior Safe Program operated by the Sheriff’s Office which expanded from serving 15 clients in early 2025 to serving 95 seniors through wearable emergency response devices.
The VACo Achievement Awards are open to all association members throughout Virginia. They recognize effective initiatives that can be replicated elsewhere in the state.
More information about Prince William County’s award-winning programs is available on the county’s official website.
