Building Stronger Bonds: 2025 Best in Governance Winners for Community Connections

Community is at the heart of good governance. Beyond the roads, schools, and public safety services, residents want to feel connected—to their neighbors, to local leaders, and to the place they call home. That’s why Community Connections is such a vital category in the Voice of the People (VOP) Awards. This year’s winners stand out because their residents reported especially high ratings across the most meaningful measures of belonging and engagement.

What Residents Value

The VOP Community Connections category is built on resident feedback about the social fabric of their community. Ratings highlight how residents feel about:

• Family Life & Roots: Their community as a place to raise children and as a place to retire.

• Sense of Belonging: Civic pride, neighborliness, and feeling welcome.

• Diversity & Inclusion: Attracting and respecting people from diverse backgrounds, openness and acceptance, and support for vulnerable residents.

• Engagement Opportunities: Chances to volunteer, attend social events, and participate in community matters.

Together, these measures provide a powerful picture of how well a community fosters trust, connection, and inclusivity.

A Data-Driven Standard of Excellence

The Best in Governance Awards are based on extensive, high-quality data  from the National Community Survey (NCS). These measures provide a comprehensive picture of how communities are performing and improving in one of the most essential aspects of livability: people’s sense of connection to each other and to their community. The Best in Governance Awards highlight local governments that are not only delivering services effectively but also building the social infrastructure that makes communities thrive.

Why It Matters

Strong social bonds don’t just create happier residents—they also strengthen resilience. Communities with high levels of connection:

• Weather challenges better by leaning on supportive networks.

• Attract and retain residents through a welcoming, inclusive environment.

• Engage more meaningfully in civic life, from volunteering to policymaking.

• Celebrate diversity as a source of strength, creativity, and growth.

When residents feel proud of where they live and valued for who they are, they are more likely to invest time, energy, and care into their community’s future.

Celebrating the Winners

This year’s VOP Community Connections awardees reflect the best of these qualities. Their residents reported outstanding ratings on belonging, inclusiveness, and opportunities to engage. These cities and counties prove that investing in relationships—between neighbors, across generations, and among diverse groups—pays dividends in community pride and civic health.

🏆Top Performers for Community Connection

Excellence - Voice of the People

• City of Coronado, California
• Town of Davidson, North Carolina
• Town of Flower Mound, Texas
• City of Lewes, Delaware
• City of Winter Garden, Florida

Transformation - Voice of the People

• City of Englewood, Colorado
• City of Grand Rapids, Michigan
• City of Kingman, Arizona
• Borough of State College, Pennsylvania
• City of Wichita, Kansas

What’s Next

🎉 The National Champions will be announced live at the ICMA Annual Conference in October in Tampa, Florida. 

👏 Congratulations to all of this year’s Top Performers! We’re honored to showcase your leadership in building stronger, smarter, and more connected communities. Visit our awards page for more information about Best in Governance Awards.