Bloomington Public Works Earns National Accreditation with 100% Compliance

The American Public Works Association (APWA) has awarded full accreditation to the City of Bloomington Department of Public Works after evaluators determined the department is 100 percent compliant with all management practices applied to its operations.

The designation makes Bloomington only the second APWA-accredited public works agency in Indiana, joining Fishers. The accreditation remains valid through July 30, 2030.

“This took years of work, honest evaluation, and a lot of people pulling in the same direction,” said Public Works Director Adam Wason. “Our staff proved that the way we serve Bloomington meets the highest standards in the profession. I’m incredibly proud of this team and grateful to everyone across the City who helped get us here.”

APWA requires agencies seeking initial accreditation to achieve full compliance with at least 95% of all applicable practices and substantial compliance with the remainder. Bloomington achieved full compliance with 100% of the applicable practices.

• Self-assessment: The agency compares its policies, procedures and operations with APWA’s recommended management practices.
• Application: The agency formally commits to the accreditation program.
• Improvement: Staff address gaps identified during the self-assessment.
• Evaluation: APWA evaluators review documentation, interview employees and examine operations.
• Accreditation: The APWA Accreditation Council reviews the evaluators’ findings and determines whether the agency meets the requirements.

The accreditation evaluates the management systems that support public works services, including planning, financial management, employee training, safety, emergency response, communications, facilities, equipment and service delivery.

For residents, the accreditation provides an independent measure of how the department manages public resources and delivers essential services. The process requires agencies to establish clear procedures, assign responsibility, document decisions and maintain systems that support consistent service.

APWA grants accreditation for four years and requires the department to submit a midterm report two years after accreditation. The report must identify organizational changes, document improvements and demonstrate continued compliance. Bloomington must complete the re-accreditation process before the current designation expires on July 20, 2030.

For more information, contact Christina Smith, Special Projects Coordinator with the Department of Public Works, at 812-349-3589 or [email protected].