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Achievement Awards
Each year, NACo’s Achievement Awards recognize outstanding programming in 18 categories aligned with the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, libraries, management, information technology, health, civic engagement, and more. Launched in 1970, the program is designed to celebrate innovation in county government. Each nominated program is judged on its own merits and not against other applications.
Dinwiddie received three National Achievement Awards in 2025.
Precision Partnership: Shooting for Excellence in Youth and Public Safety
Dinwiddie County’s Department of Waste Management spearheaded a collaborative effort with the Dinwiddie Sheriff’s Office, Virginia Cooperative Extension (4-H), the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and the Virginia Department of Forestry to develop three specialized shooting ranges at the County Landfill site. The Archery Range, Riflery Range, and Shooting/Qualifying Range were constructed using soil excavated by VDOT during routine roadside ditch maintenance. As part of a bulldozer training exercise, the Department of Forestry expertly spread and shaped the dirt to form the range layouts. Today, the Archery and Riflery ranges support the county’s growing 4-H youth programs while the Shooting and Qualifying Range provides a secure training space for the Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office and neighboring law enforcement agencies.
Dinwiddie County's Middle School Mock Trial
This program results from collaboration among the Dinwiddie County Sheriff's Office, the Commonwealth's Attorney, the Department of Parks & Recreation, and Dinwiddie County Middle School's Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program. Through the Mock Trial experience, students receive an enriching, hands-on learning experience by immersing themselves in the judicial system through one of two engaging mock trials: the fictional yet grounded in legal principles Commonwealth of Virginia vs. Gold E. Locks, and the Commonwealth of Virginia vs. Mr. Grinch.
Dinwiddie Driving Decisions
The Dinwiddie Driving Decisions tour was devised to familiarize elected officials and County leaders with local assets and challenges ahead of the upcoming budget season. The purpose of the tour was to visit key sites across Dinwiddie County, providing insight into infrastructure, economic development, education, public safety, and community services. By the end of the 3-day tour, County leaders had a better understanding of Dinwiddie's assets, needs, and capabilities. An unintended result of the tour was the relationship-building that took place over the three-day experience. Leaders grew to know each other on a different level, and the shared experience built bridges that continue to be beneficial.