Guilford County was among 27 North Carolina jurisdictions to earn recognition in the North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) 2025 Excellence in Communications Awards. Guilford County won first place in the brochure category and three second-place awards for graphic design, photography, and social media.
The Guilford County Communications Department won first place in the brochure category for the Mental Health Resources Pocket Guide, a portable, concise, and easy-to-use guide that organizes mental and behavioral health resources across the county. The guide was praised by the judges for its clarity and ability to reduce stigma, aimed at helping residents, providers, and those in crisis easily access mental health resources .
In addition, the Communications Department earned second place in the large population photography category for an image capturing the emotional moments of students at the Kiser Middle School topping-off ceremony. The judges noted the photo’s ability to convey the excitement of the event and its significance to the community. County communicators were also recognized for sharing information about White Flag warming centers for those experiencing homelessness, receiving second place in the large population social media single post category. Judges commented that the social media post presented important information in a quick, easy-to-share, and digestible format.
The Guilford County Sheriff's Office won second place in the graphic design category for its Weekly Stats graphics, which provide clear, concise summaries of law enforcement activities to enhance transparency and build community trust.
“We are proud that our Communications Department and Sheriff's Office were both recognized at the 2025 NC3C Excellence in Communications Awards for their work in communications and information sharing,” said County Manager Michael Halford. “Their work is a direct reflection of one of the county’s core values of Transparency and Communication, ensuring residents are informed about the vital work and services across Guilford County.”
The awards were announced on Thursday, April 10, during NC3C’s annual conference in Asheville. One hundred and seventy-nine award program entries from different local government organizations, including cities, counties, and towns across the state, submitted their work for the awards.
“This year, we saw not only the highest number of award submissions we've ever received, but also a record number of counties and municipalities participating,” said NC3C President Kaisha Brown. “As the competition grows each year, the level of skill and expertise needed to win these awards continues to rise. Every local government agency that entered should be proud of their work. Whether it's managing communication during crises, producing compelling video and audio content, or using social media as a key community hub for information, government communicators in North Carolina go above and beyond to keep our residents informed and connected. On behalf of the NC3C Board, we send our congratulations to all of the winners.”
About NC3C
The purpose of North Carolina City & County Communicators is to encourage professional development and networking among local governmental communications professionals. The organization was formed in March 2007, and consists of professional government communicators from around the state. For more information about NC3C, visit www.nc3c.com.