#44 Best Place To Live (Top 100 list of Americas best small towns by CNN Money.com, 2009)
3rd Best Places to Move in America(Forbes.com, 2009)
14th Best Place to Live in America(CNN/Money Magazine, 2007)
#1 Small Town in North Carolina(NC Business Magazine, 1994)
Financial
Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (Government Financial Officers Association of the United States 1994 - 2009)
Standard & Poor’s AAA Bond Rating (2009)
Planning Department
Anthemion Award for Adaptive Reuse of the Old Apex Town Hall, now Halle Cultural Arts Center (Capital Area Preservation, 2008)
Gertrude S. Carraway Award of Merit for Outstanding Achievement for Historic Preservation (Preservation North Carolina, 2007)
Marvin Collins Outstanding Planning Award for Interactive Development Map (American Planning Association, 2006)
Anthemion Award for Ordinances Regulating Demolition of Historic Structures (Capital Area Preservation, 2004)
Anthemion Award for Streetscape Improvements to the Central Business District (Capital Area Preservation, 1996)
Erosion Control (Environmental Programs-Public Works and Utilities)
Outstanding Erosion and Sedimentation Control Local Program - small staff (NC Sediment Control Commission and NC DENR Division of Land Resources, 1999)
Water Quality (Public Works and Utilities)
1st place in the Best Tasting Water Competition (Tied with Fayetteville - NC AWWA-WEA, 2005)
1st place in the Best Tasting Water Competition (NC AWWA-WEA, 2009)
Directors Award (The Partnership for Safe Water, 2004-2009)
Water Reclamation Facility (Public Works and Utilities)
Outstanding Plant Award- in recognition of exceptional plant design operation and performance (Lakeside Equipment Corporation, 1995)
Pinnacle Award-for Best Partnering Project - Water Treatment Plant expansion I (The Associated General Contractors of America, 2001)
Electric Utilities (Public Works and Utilities)
Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) – Platinum Member (2009 - 2010)
Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) – Gold Member (2007-2008)
Municipal Electric Safety Award – for No Time Lost (American Public Power Association 1997-2007)
Public Power Award of Excellence – Communications (2008 & 2009)
Public Power Award of Excellence – Customer Service (2008 & 2009)
Public Power Award of Excellence – Energy Efficiency (2008 & 2009)
Police Department
1st Place for Best Police Car Design (Law & Order Magazine, 2006)
Fire Department
Recognition for achievement as a state Heavy Rescue provider for all 9 rescue specialties to include Heavy Rescue, Trench Rescue, Structural Collapse, Confined Space Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, Dive Rescue, High Angle Rescue, Open Water Rescue and Wilderness Search and Rescue (North Carolina Association of Rescue Squads, 2006)
Langley/Higgins Award for Swiftwater Rescues performed during the storms/floods associated with Hurricanes Frances and Ivan in Madison County (2004)
Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department
AIA Tower Award, Halle Cultural Arts Center (American Institute of Architects – Triangle Chapter, 2010)
AIA Honor Award, Halle Cultural Arts Center (American Institute of Architects – Triangle Chapter, 2010)
AIA Triangle Merit Award, Halle Cultural Arts Center (American Institute of Architects – Triangle Chapter)
