FRANKLIN –National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) has announced Franklin, TN Winner of the Voice of the People Award for Excellence in Education and Enrichment.  This award is only given to top performing jurisdictions that best listen and act for the benefit their communities. Based on responses from The National Citizen Survey^™ (The NCS^™), residents in our community reported the highest ratings for this category compared with all other participating jurisdictions.

The National Citizen Survey^™ reports resident opinion and satisfaction with local government and services with a scientific, representative sample approach.  Results are then used to inform budgeting, performance measurement and program planning.

The Voice of the People Awards stand alone as the only award given in local government based on community opinion. The perspectives of the residents themselves determine nominees for the very best of Community Engagement, Safety, Mobility, Foundations of Livability, Recreation and Wellness, Education and Enrichment, Natural Environment, Built Environment and Economy. Of the communities that participated in The National Citizen Survey in 2016, winners and finalists for Excellence in these categories received the highest overall levels of satisfaction from residents.

“This was one of the most competitive years for the VOP Awards I’ve ever seen,” said NRC Senior Survey Associate Damema Mann.  “This year’s award recipients showed real commitment to best practices, innovation and bettering quality of life for their residents.”  Mann has conducted hundreds of iterations of The NCS for more than a decade.

“We are honored that we ranked first among over 500 cities nationwide in education and enrichment.  Our citizens said their opportunities to worship, to participate in civic sponsored events, to participate in leisure activities, and to participate in learning opportunities were the best they could imagine,” said City Administrator Eric Stuckey.  We are extremely proud to receive this honor and credit our staff and Board of Mayor and Alderman for allowing the City to conduct the Citizen Survey.”

Now running nine years, the Voice of the People Awards were presented by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and National Research Center, Inc.  They were given at the 103^rd Annual ICMA conference in San Antonio, TX.

National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) is a leader in the field of public sector research and evaluation, with clients from across the country. NRC’s team of social scientists support cities, counties, foundations and nonprofit organizations in using survey research to move their communities forward. Visit http://www.n-r-c.com/2017-vop-awards-winners-finalists/  to learn more about Voice of the People Awards and National Research Center.

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***Photo Credit-Pictured Left to Right: Damema Mann, National Research Center, Michael Walters Young, Budget and Strategic Innovation Manager, Eric Stuckey, City Administrator