What is the American Public Works Association (APWA)?
When was APWA founded?
Who are APWA Members?
How many members comprise APWA?
How is APWA governed?
What are APWA chapters and branches?
What is the Canadian Public Works Association (CPWA) and how does it work with APWA?
What are APWA's Technical Committees?
What are APWA’s certification programs?
Does APWA have an employment resource?
What is APWA accreditation?
What is the APWA International Public Works Congress and Exposition?
What is the APWA North American Snow Conference?
What are Urban Forum and the Small Cities/Rural Communities Forum?
What is APWA's National Awards Program?
What is the APWA Reporter?
Where can I find more information?

What is the American Public Works Association (APWA)?
APWA is an international educational and professional association of public agencies, private sector companies and individuals dedicated to providing high quality public works goods and services. APWA’s 28,500+ members are located throughout North America. The Association provides a forum in which public works professionals can exchange ideas, improve professional competency, increase the performance of their agencies and companies, and bring important public works-related topics to public attention in local, state and federal arenas.

When was APWA founded?
APWA’s predecessor organization, the American Society for Municipal Improvements (ASMI), was formed in the 1890s. The first organization for municipal public works officials, ASMI later partnered with the International Association of Public Works Officials (IAPWO) to lay the ground work for what would become APWA.

Chartered in 1937 and incorporated in the state of Illinois, APWA is the largest and oldest organization of its kind in the world, with headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, and an office in Washington, D.C.

Who are APWA Members?
APWA’s diverse membership encompasses all aspects of public works. Members include public works directors, city engineers, city managers, fleet managers, property and equipment superintendents, utilities managers, community development directors, transportation managers, parks directors, county officials and representatives from the companies that supply products and services to those professionals.

How many members comprise APWA?
APWA has 28,500+ members from 64 chapters and 87 branches throughout North America.

How is APWA governed?
The Association is governed by a 17-member Board of Directors elected by members. Click here to see the current Board. 

What are APWA chapters and branches?
Chapters and branches engage in the same educational, networking and public service activities as the national organization, but they do so close to home. All APWA members are also members of a chapter or branch in their geographical area. Chapters and branches offer members the opportunity to attend educational programs and equipment shows and network with their colleagues and peers in a professional setting. To see what an APWA chapter or branch is doing in your area view this list of chapter websites. While the number of meetings in a calendar year differs from chapter to chapter, each holds at least one annual meeting for its membership.

What is the Canadian Public Works Association (CPWA) and how does it work with APWA?
The Canadian Public Works Association (CPWA) was founded in 1986 as the voice of public works in Canada. CPWA members include public works professionals in Canada who are members of the American Public Works Association. (Any APWA member residing in Canada is automatically a member of CPWA.) Governed by an 8-member Board of Directors (one representative from each chapter in Canada), CPWA is an advocate at the federal level for programs and policies that support a strong, well- funded, sustainable infrastructure. Click here for more information.

APWA’s Technical Committees are a key source for identifying skills and competencies necessary for effective management of public works issues as well as recommending environmentally sound, cost-effective and efficient policies, practices and programs for APWA and its members. Six APWA members are appointed to each Technical Committee by the APWA President and serve a two-year term. Click here for more information.

What are APWA’s certification programs?
APWA offers a series of professional development initiatives to promote excellence in the public works industry. In 2006, APWA launched Certified Public Fleet Professional (CPFP), an individual certification program for professionals managing fleets in the public sector. The CPFP program works to advance the knowledge and practice of public fleet professionals to benefit communities through quality fleet services.

APWA also endorses the Certified Grounds Manager (CGM) developed and offered by the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS). As the first program of its kind in the Green Industry, it defines basic elements in grounds management and promotes continuing education and evaluation of knowledge and capabilities.

APWA is considering additional individual professional certification programs in other public works disciplines such as construction inspection and stormwater management. Click here for more information.

Does APWA have an employment resource?
In 2006 the Association launched APWA WorkZone, an exclusive Web site for employment in the public works profession. The site, located at www.apwa.net/workzone, offers targeted searches, access to the most qualified candidates and immediate job postings. Used in conjunction with printed notices in the APWA Reporter (APWA’s monthly magazine), WorkZone is quickly becoming the industry resource for public works employment.

What is APWA accreditation?
Accreditation from APWA is the mark of professionalism in the public works industry. The program recognizes that an agency’s policies, procedures and practices have been evaluated against nationally-recognized management standards. The accreditation process often starts with APWA’s “Self-Assessment Using the Management Practices Manual” workshop and concludes with a site visit by a team of evaluators who complete an extensive review of the agency’s documentation and interview selected staff. In 2007, the Accreditation program celebrated its 10th anniversary. Click here for more information.

What is the APWA International Public Works Congress and Exposition?
Billed as the “Best Show in Public Works,” APWA’s annual International Public Works Congress and Exposition brings together the newest public works products, emerging trends and best practices through a series of cutting-edge educational sessions and speakers, and the world’s largest public works exhibition floor. More than 6,500 APWA members and industry professionals attend the meeting, which is held in a different North American city every year. Click here for more information.

What is the APWA North American Snow Conference?
Each spring more than 1,000 participants attend APWA’s North American Snow Conference, the premiere winter maintenance conference for professionals dealing with snow, sleet, ice, freezing rain and unpredictable weather patterns and storm systems. The conference highlights the latest innovations, successful practices and strategies in winter operations through expert speakers, educational sessions and technical tours. In 2006, heavy equipment debuted on the Snow Conference exhibit floor, which also features new technology and services tailored to snow and ice management and winter operations. Click here for more information.

What are Urban Forum and the Small Cities/Rural Communities Forum?
Established in the 1990s, the Urban Forum and Small Cities/Rural Communities (SC/RC) Forum are resources for public works practitioners in large, urbanized areas and small and rural jurisdictions to access training and education activities, and share information and ideas with practitioners from similar communities. The Urban Forum is designed to meet the needs of public works directors and senior managers from agencies serving populations of 100,000 or greater.

Each Forum provides access to an information-exchange e-mail community, sponsors activities at the APWA International Public Works Congress and Exposition and coordinates communication to federal leaders regarding specific issues. The Urban Forum holds a meeting each spring geared to the needs of larger jurisdictions. The SC/RC also conducts monthly conference calls and provides liaisons to APWA’s Technical Committees.

What is APWA’s National Awards Program?
APWA sponsors more than 35 prestigious awards annually recognizing individuals, groups and chapters who demonstrate discipline, vision and passion, and are dedicated to making a difference in their communities. Award recipients receive national recognition during APWA’s International Public Works Congress and Exposition and are showcased throughout the APWA Reporter, newsletters, the APWA Web site and trade and national media. Some of the awards include Professional Manager of the Year, Top 10 Public Works Leaders of the Year and the APWA Projects of the Year.

What is the APWA Reporter?
The award-winning APWA Reporter, the Association’s monthly magazine, serves as the prime communication link uniting the community of public works professionals who make up the association. Most articles are written by member-experts on subjects ranging from emergency management and water resources to fleet services and winter maintenance. The articles contain information on management techniques, research, training programs and new technology.

Where can I find more information?
Contact APWA headquarters at (816) 472-6100 or toll-free at 1-800-848-APWA (2792).