The Northeast Florida Regional Council announced the winners of the 2024 Northeast Florida Regional Leadership Awards on Dec. 18. The organization presents the honors each year to recognize the best projects and the brightest leaders in the region.
The 21st Annual Regional Awards for Excellence and Elected Officials Luncheon to celebrate the winners and to honor local elected officials is scheduled at noon Jan. 9 at WJCT Studios.
The recognition program is anchored by the Regional Leadership Award, given to a person who exemplifies service to community and commitment to regionalism. The 2024 recipient is former St. Augustine City Commissioner Roxanne Horvath.
“There continues to be engaging and transformational work happening across Northeast Florida. Roxanne Horvath has been a Regional Council Board Member for over 10 years, leaving a lasting imprint through her dedication to the Region and her contributions to regional resiliency efforts over the last several years,” Beth Payne, CEO of the Northeast Florida Regional Council, said in a news release.
Other 2024 award winners were selected in the following categories:
• Affordable housing: Heirs Property: LISC Jacksonville
• Culture and historic preservation: Nassau 200/Fernandina Beach 200 Bicentennial Celebrations
• Economic development: PLANT Agricultural Systems – Baker County Economic Development Commission
• Environmental stewardship: Nassau County Atlantic to Okefenokee Florida Forever Designation
• Healthcare emergency preparedness: UF Health Pediatric Evacuation Full Scale Exercise
• Planning and growth management: City of Palm Coast – Imagine 2050 City on the Rise
• Public safety: Flagler County’s FAA Certificate of Waiver for Drones Beyond Line Of Sight
• Quality of life: Florida Department of Health – St. Johns County mobile nutrition program for women, infants and children
• Resiliency: St. Johns County’s Alpine Groves Park shoreline restoration
• Transportation: Clay County’s Bonded Transportation Program
• Special achievement: Henry Dean, former St. Johns County commissioner
The Northeast Florida Regional Council is an independent regional government agency serving Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Putnam, Nassau and St. Johns counties. It provides a regional perspective on economic development, emergency preparedness, resiliency and community development to enhance the quality of life of Northeast Florida residents.
Visit nefrc.org for more information.