Program Information

The Good Government Award was established in 2003, in an effort to recognize and promote effective intergovernmental cooperation and innovative services. Any Wisconsin county or city/village/town unit of government may nominate itself or others for efforts in one of the following categories:

• County Awards 
  • County-led efforts to cooperate with other local units of government
  • Counties working independently to do more with less

• City/Village/Town Awards  
  • Cities/Villages/Towns under 10,000 population 
    • City/village/town-led efforts to cooperate with other local units of government
    • Cities/villages/towns working independently to do more with less
  • Cities/Villages/Towns over 10,000 population 
    • City/village/town-led efforts to cooperate with other local units of government
    • Cities/villages/towns working independently to do more with less

Entry forms are mailed in early June to county and local community clerks, as well as chief elected and administrative officials throughout the state. 

An independent panel of judges convenes in late August to review the entries and select the winners.

Awards are presented at the annual conferences of the Wisconsin Counties Association, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and the Wisconsin Towns Association in September and October.