Top 10 in 2023

We're closing out 2023 with our popular top 10 AWC highlights from another exceptional year. Read on to hear about this year’s achievements and celebrations. We look forward to another exciting year working alongside 281 strong cities and towns in 2024!

1. You—Washington’s city leaders—are at the top of our list!
   Your strong cities make our state great. That’s why the hard work and dedication of our members keeps you at the top of our list. Check yourselves out in our event photos from this year. We can’t wait to engage with you in the new year!

2. Elected Officials Essentials welcomes a record number of attendees
   We were thrilled to welcome nearly 500 incoming and current elected officials in December for a fun and educational workshop! City officials from 183 Washington cities (65% of cities!) joined us from throughout the state at nine locations and online. Take a look at workshop materials and pictures from around the state!

3. Our five signature conferences bring city leaders together from around the state
   In 2023, more than 1,600 members joined us at our five signature conferences in Olympia, Lynnwood, Yakima, Spokane, and Kennewick to share the latest in tools and resources to help them conduct their work at city hall. Interested in coming to an AWC conference this year? Save the date!

4. AWC celebrates 90 years of cities making history—together
   Since 1933, AWC has continuously adapted to tackle the issues that have mattered most over nine decades. Read this timeline telling the story of nearly a century of city innovation through changing times. Watch this video where some of our friends and colleagues from over the years deliver their fun and heartwarming birthday wishes. We dare you not to smile!

5. Another year of great AWC programs means lower costs for cities
   There is power in pooling. AWC’s Member Pooling Programs kept costs low for cities in 2023. AWC’s Member Pooling Programs remained fiscally strong and continued to provide excellent prevention and safety services to members. Programs include AWC Employee Benefit Trust, AWC Risk Management Service Agency, AWC Workers’ Comp Retro, and the AWC Drug & Alcohol Consortium.

6. 2023 State of the Cities report covers public safety
   The city landscape is changing: populations are changing, expectations are changing, demands are increasing, and with that, law enforcement and the criminal justice system must continue to change too. In this year’s State of the Cities report, AWC examines the present conditions of the public safety, criminal justice, and behavioral health systems to explore challenges that cities face and discover areas where cities can learn from each other. Read the report.

7. Cities continue strengthening and elevating diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB)
   AWC worked steadfastly with cities in 2023 to develop pathways that make the places where we live, work, and play welcoming to all. We honed our commitment to DEIB issues through internal and external discussions (including the new AWC DEIB Cabinet) about best practices to operationalize DEIB in cities, delivering tools and resources at AWC’s Annual Conference, interviewing experts in the field, highlighting stories in our magazine, and bringing on board a beloved expert to AWC staff. We are excited to continue expanding these efforts in 2024 and beyond!

8. The Center for Quality Communities awards eight outstanding young leaders with scholarships
   The Center for Quality Communities (CQC) supports civic-minded young people in our cities—and eight impressive recipients were awarded scholarships for higher education. Watch this video to hear inspiring stories and heartfelt thanks from our 2023 scholarship recipients. We look forward to building more support and engagement in this important program in 2024! Have you nominated a student yet? City nominations are due February 8, 2024.

9. The PWAA gets full funding for the first time in over a decade
   Coming into the 2023 Legislative Session, cities asked the Legislature to fully fund the Public Works Assistance Account (PWAA) and refrain from further fund transfers or diversions. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of strong city advocates, we are pleased the Legislature ultimately funded the PWAA at $400 million for the 2023-25 biennium!

10. AWC post-event content provides valuable information for the busy city leader
    We love a numbered list around here! If you had a busy year in 2023 and couldn’t tap into all our events, take a minute to check out some of our post-event resources so that you never miss a thing! Here are a few of our favorites from this year:
    • Five things we learned at Mayors Exchange in January and October
    • Nine things we learned at City Action Days in February
    • Eight things we learned at Healthy Worksite Summit in March
    • Five things we learned and why you should attend the AWC Annual Conference in June
    • Nine things we learned at Budget Workshop in August

There are always more than 10 things to celebrate! Check out our June 2023 State of the Association to read more about AWC’s work throughout the year.