National Public Works Week honors public works professionals— contributions to quality of life

KANSAS CITY, MO. — The week of May 19-25, 2013, marks the annual celebration of National Public Works Week (NPWW), which is sponsored by the American Public Works Association (APWA) to raise awareness of the vitally important contributions of public works professionals and the crucial role that infrastructure, facilities, and services play in the quality of life in all communities.

Since 1960, APWA has sponsored National Public Works Week across North America, where more than 28,000 public works professionals in the U.S. and Canada remind the public of the contributions public works makes to their daily lives. Public works professionals’ responsibilities include planning, building, managing, and operating the public infrastructure in our local communities and ensuring a sustainable quality of life.

2013 Theme: Because of Public Works…
This year’s theme is “Because of Public Works…,” emphasizing the quality of life contributions that public works professionals bring to communities around the world. Citizens have clean water, safe streets and neighborhoods, efficient traffic, and rapid response to emergencies "Because of Public Works…"

To mark this year’s anniversary, cities, towns, counties, districts, and APWA and CPWA chapters across North America are holding public events and celebrations. “APWA is pleased to honor the men and women who are key to the sustainability of our communities,” said APWA’s Executive Director Peter B. King. “National Public Works Week is about honoring the enormous contribution that public works professionals make in serving our communities by providing and maintaining our transportation, water systems, utilities, emergency response operations and other essential infrastructure and services,” King said. “In both the U.S. and Canada, the National Public Works Week celebrations and events are marked by resolutions and proclamations by governors, provincial premiers, mayors, and other city and county officials.”

For more information about APWA’s National Public Works Week, visit www.apwa.net/discover/National-Public-Works-Week.