We're closing out 2022 with our popular top ten AWC highlights from another exceptional year. Read about this year’s achievements and celebrations. We look forward to another exciting year working alongside 281 strong
cities and towns in 2023!
- You—Washington’s city leaders—are always 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!
The Center for Quality Communities increases scholarship money
The Center for Quality Communities (CQC) has long recognized the value of supporting civic-minded young people in our cities, but with a decline in young leadership
being discussed in the news, AWC recognized this year as a key moment to build confidence and excitement in young civil-servants. Each of this year’s ten CQC $1,000 scholarships were more than doubled, to $2,500. We look forward to building
more support and engagement in this important program in 2023! Have you nominated a student yet? Applications are due January 13, 2023.
- We helped cities continue to access vital federal assistance
With the historic passage of direct federal aid to cities through last year’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), AWC
helped cities stay on top of news, information, and opportunities to access the vital funds. Whether it was bringing broadband to households and businesses in Dayton, or keeping a critical ferry running in Port Angeles, city leaders from around
the state stepped up to make critical investments that take their communities into the future.
$3.5M in refunds to Retro Pool members
Across the state, cities and towns prioritized safety to protect their employees
and the workplace. Their dedication to the Retro Program's mission, "Every employee, home safe, every night" has rewarded members of the AWC Workers’ Comp Retro Pool $3.5 million in refunds—the highest refund in program history.
- AWC distributes $1.9 million for alternative response teams
In the 2022 state budget, AWC received grant funds to help cities start up and support fledging alternative response team programs. The Alternative Response Team (ART)
Grant program supports development of alternative response models, including law enforcement assisted diversion (LEAD), community assistance referral and education services (CARES), and mobile crisis teams. Fourteen programs serving 19 cities
received funding in 2022.
One of our mayors took a prominent position on the national stage
The National League of Cities (NLC) elected Tacoma’s Mayor, Victoria Woodards, as its President. This is the first time in
40 years that one of our members has been appointed to the position. Several of our members were also chosen to lead NLC policy committees and join the NLC Board. View the photos from the mayor’s celebratory event. Congratulations
Mayor Woodards, University Place Councilmember Kent Keel, and Tukwila Councilmember Kate Kruller!
Photo credit: National League of Cities
- Another year of great AWC programs meant lower costs for cities
There is power in pooling. AWC’s Member Pooling Programs kept costs low for cities in 2022. 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.
Cities strengthened and elevated diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB)
AWC worked steadfastly with cities to create new tools and develop pathways that make the places where we live,
work, and play welcoming to all. We honed our commitment to DEIB issues this year, which included adding it as our fifth CML category, meeting internally and externally about best practices to operationalize DEIB in cities, and beefing up our quarterly meetings with folks at city hall who work on DEIB issues. We are excited to continue
expanding these efforts in 2023 and beyond.
- Cities supported summer programming for children and youth around the state
AWC, in partnership with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, distributed millions of federal COVID-19 relief dollars to local governments,
tribes, and park districts to support summer programming for children and youth impacted by the pandemic. In total, 58 cities received funding to carry summer programs that included sport camps, field trips, career exploration, and so much more.
Conferences returned to in-person gatherings
As the old saying goes, it’s like riding a bike. In 2022, AWC brought back each of our signature conferences in-person—starting with Healthy
Worksite Summit in March. More than 1,000 members joined us in Lynnwood, Yakima, Vancouver, and Chelan to share the latest in tools and resources to help them conduct their work at city halls. Interested in coming to an AWC conference this year?
Save the date!