Celebrating the Best in Governance: Health and Wellness Award Winners

Health and Wellness form the foundation of every thriving community. From preventive care and mental health to access to affordable food and quality providers, residents’ health both reflects and shapes a community’s vitality. Strong outcomes in this area are not only about individual well-being—they are deeply tied to local governments’ ability to ensure access, equity, and long-term quality of life.

The Best in Governance Awards  in the area of Health and Wellness draw on two complementary lenses: resident feedback from the Best in Governance Awards and national indicators from Polco’s Government Performance Action and Learning (GPAL) platform. Together, these measures provide a powerful picture of how communities are advancing physical and mental health—combining what residents experience day to day with public health data on outcomes and system performance.

Voice of the People Award: Residents’ Perspective

The Voice of the People Award celebrates communities where residents themselves report exceptional opportunities for health and wellness. High ratings reflect pride in:

• Overall health and wellness opportunities
• Availability of affordable, quality food
• Availability of affordable, quality health care
• Availability of preventive health services
• Availability of affordable, quality mental health care
• Access to health services

When residents rate these areas highly, it signals not only satisfaction with current services, but also confidence that their community supports healthy living for all ages and circumstances.

Community Impact Award: Data-Driven Outcomes

The Community Impact Award recognizes communities achieving strong results on public health indicators from Polco’s GPAL platform. These measures highlight how well local governments and partners support healthier living. Key dimensions include:

• Healthy Lifespans – Longer life expectancy and lower premature mortality.
• Access to Care – Strong availability of health providers, preventive screenings, and routine checkups.
• Mental and Behavioral Health – Better support for mental health and lower rates of risky behaviors.
• Healthy Living Environments – Greater access to nutritious food, safe spaces for exercise, and lower rates of chronic disease.
• Equity and Resilience – Reducing disparities in access and outcomes across age, ability, and income.

These benchmarks show how communities can create environments where residents not only live longer, but also enjoy better physical, mental, and social well-being.

🏆Top Performers for Education, Arts & Culture

Excellence - Voice of the People

• City of Ann Arbor, Michigan
• City of Clive, Iowa
• City of Eagan, Minnesota
• Town of Flower Mound, Texas
• City of Franklin, Tennessee

Transformation - Voice of the People

• City of Bloomington, Minnesota
• City of Celina, Texas
• City of Franklin, Tennessee
• City of Sedona, Arizona
• Town of Wendell, North Carolina

Excellence - Community Impact

• Arlington County, Virginia
• City of Carmel, Indiana
• Loudoun County, Virginia
• Borough of Morris Plains, New Jersey
• Borough of Mountain Lakes, New Jersey

Leading the Way

By excelling in both resident-reported experiences and objective public health outcomes, these communities demonstrate what is possible when leadership, resources, and engagement align. They show how governments can foster not just healthier individuals, but healthier systems and environments—ensuring long-term resilience and shared quality of life.

The Best in Governance – Health and Wellness Award Winners set a national standard, proving that strong local governance directly contributes to better, longer, and healthier lives.

What’s Next

The communities listed as top performers in each category represent the very best in fostering educational excellence and cultural vitality.

🎉 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.