KANNAPOLIS — The city of Kannapolis and Cabarrus County communications departments were among 28 North Carolina governments to earn recognition in the 12th North Carolina City & County Communicators’ Excellence in Communications Awards.

Kannapolis won two first-place awards in the categories of printed publications and marketing tools, and a second-place award for Most Creative Marketing for the Least Amount of Dollars Spent.

Cabarrus County won a first-place award for Best PEG/Streaming Government Channel and five second-place awards in the categories of instructional video, regular programming, one-time special programming, videography and multiplatform campaign.

The awards were presented recently at NC3C’s spring conference in Durham. A total of 248 entries were received.

Categories included TV and video, communication technology, printed publications, Most Creative Project for the Least Amount of Funds, public participation and marketing tools.

Cabarrus County won a first-place award for general programming on Cabarrus County Television (CabCo TV), Spectrum Cable Channel 22. CabCo TV is the county’s only government television channel. Weekly programming highlights each of the cities in the county, as well as special events, programs, agencies and government services.

The county received a second-place instructional video award for its “Successful Gardener” show on raised plant beds, produced in collaboration with the Cooperative Extension Office. “Historical Moments — Early Movie Theaters in Cabarrus County” earned second-place honors in the regular programming category.

“Hearts and Heroes,” a video special on people saved from cardiac emergencies, was a second-place winner. Two more second-place honors were awarded in the videography and multiplatform campaign categories for “Storylines – Gifts of Life,” which features the story of Cabarrus Commissioner Lynn Shue’s two organ transplants, and the county’s work to deliver timely and transparent information on the 2019 budget process.

The city of Kannapolis received a first-place award in printed publications for the Village Park brochure, which highlights the amenities at the park and showcases the city’s Discover a Healthy Life brand.

The city also received first-place honors in the category of marketing tools for the National League of Cities Presentation. Kannapolis was invited to present its Downtown Revitalization Project to the National League of Cities during its fall 2018 conference. The presentation included the development of marketing tools such as a speech by Mayor Darrell Hinnant, a handout on the project and a PowerPoint presentation.

The city received a second-place award in the category of Most Creative Marketing Event for the Least Amount of Dollars Spent for the sports and entertainment venue groundbreaking. It celebrated construction of the venue and focused on the city’s commitment to invest downtown.

Judges for the Excellence in Communications Awards were communication professionals from the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers and a variety of communications industries across the state.

The North Carolina City & County Communicators encourages professional development and networking among local governmental communications professionals. The organization was formed in March 2007.

For more information about NC3C, visit www.nc3c.com.