In communities across the country, public-sector teams are proving that meaningful engagement is a catalyst for lasting impact. This year’s Granicus Digital Government Award winners for “Community Engagement” exemplify what’s possible when agencies elevate resident voices and forge collaborations that deliver people‑centered results. Explore how these standout organizations turned bold ideas into prize‑worthy progress — and what their success can inspire in your own community.
Why they won
Beaufort County School District (BCSD)
Beaufort County School District reshaped how a school system connects with its community by creating BCSD Connected.
With digital engagement tools that offer surveys, forums, resources, and project updates all in one accessible place, BCSD made it easier for everyone — students, families, educators, and residents — to participate in shaping district priorities.
“Beaufort County School District didn’t just open a survey — they built an always‑on home where families can learn, ask questions, and actively shape decisions,” said Jake Sagar, vice president of Experience Partners at Granicus. “By pairing plain‑language updates with accessible, easy‑to‑use tools, they turned scattered feedback into a steady, inclusive conversation that reflects the real voices of their community. What truly stands out is their commitment to meeting families where they are and creating a trusted space for dialogue. BCSD’s work shows how thoughtful engagement can strengthen relationships and empower a school district to grow alongside its community.”
BCSD now leads with a model of transparency and inclusion that other districts can look to as a blueprint for modern community partnership.
“Implementing [Granicus’ Sentiment & Feedback capability] was important because it modernized the organization’s public engagement approach, making it easier for constituents to access information and participate in decision-making regardless of location, time, or schedule,” said Cristin Casper, the district’s external engagement and strategic communication specialist. “As a result, the initiative broadened community participation and created more consistent, meaningful opportunities for residents to share input and stay involved in local initiatives.”
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Illinois
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)’s Safe Travel for All initiative used Engagement Cloud to meaningfully engage with stakeholders not traditionally included in the planning process — gaining input from thousands of residents across six counties to shape regional traffic safety action plans.
“Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning stood out for running a regional engagement with remarkable local heart — blending bilingual content, county‑specific hubs, and hotspot mapping to elevate lived experiences into design priorities,” explained Sagar. “Their approach uncovered patterns that traditional meetings often miss, ensuring every county’s unique perspective was represented. What makes this work exceptional is how CMAP transformed thousands of insights into a shared, actionable vision for safer streets. It’s a model of community‑centered planning that brings residents and decision‑makers together around a common purpose.”
More than 1,300 survey responses shaped final county plans adopted; the project generated awareness, empowered vulnerable road users, and laid out groundwork for federal funding eligibility.
“The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s Safe Travel for All engagement hub allows for meaningful community engagement — rooted in lived experiences, two-way communications, and meeting people where they are — and helps inform a holistic approach to traffic safety,” said Natalie Kuriata, principal for communications and engagement for the planning agency. “As a result, the agency and its partners developed six safety action plans that will help municipalities and counties obtain government funding for roadway improvements, representing communities’ desires to improve traffic safety and save lives.”
City of Penticton, BC
Penticton delivered a standout engagement experience by inviting the community into the future of its waterfront using a blend of accessible engagement tools. The result was a community‑shaped vision for the Esplanade Renewal Plan.
“The Esplanade is an underutilized section of Penticton’s waterfront along Okanagan Lake and this project sought community feedback on opportunities to enhance this public amenity over the next 20+ years,” said Steven Collyer, Penticton’s housing and policy initiatives manager. “Our digital engagement strategy included a recorded video tour and affixing QR codes throughout the area to raise awareness of the project and the opportunities for the public to get involved. The digital tour video has over 11,000 views on Facebook and over 900 views on YouTube. In addition to hundreds of in-person event attendees, this digital engagement strategy helped significantly boost community awareness and engagement in the project.”
The engagement page housed surveys, documents, and project updates — attracting 6,000 visitors and generating strong community insight. Residents’ input is now guiding long-term planning for waterfront access, amenities, and natural area preservation.
“Penticton invited residents into the planning process — not just online, but on the waterfront itself — so the 20‑year vision reflects how people actually use the shoreline,” stated Sagar. “Walkshops, a digital tour, and clear, visual explainers made planning feel accessible and human. Penticton didn’t ask for comments in a vacuum; they equipped people to weigh trade‑offs. The result is a future shaped with the community, honoring the place residents love and the stories they shared.”
Trends & insights from elevated engagers
Meet people where they already are
Instead of relying on a single evening meeting or a long PDF, winners combined always‑on digital hubs with in‑person touchpoints so people could participate while running errands, scrolling on a phone, or attending a community event. The mix reached families, shift workers, youth, newcomers, and other groups who rarely show up to formal hearings — broadening both reach and representation.
Explain first, ask second
Before asking residents to weigh in, teams provided plain‑language explainers, short videos, maps, and timelines. This helped people understand trade‑offs and why the decision matters. The payoff: fewer repetitive questions, less confusion, and higher‑quality input staff could use directly in recommendations.
Design for inclusion from day one
Digital accessibility, bilingual content, and targeted outreach to under‑represented groups were built into the plan from the beginning. Winners partnered with community organizations and created low‑barrier paths to participate (short forms, mobile‑friendly pages, drop‑in sessions). This spurred engagement that reflected the full community, not just the most online or the most vocal.
Turn Q&A into a living public record
Instead of burying answers, winners used open Q&A tools and responded to every question visibly. That transparency defused rumors, gave everyone the same facts, and showed how staff were weighing concerns. It also reduced duplicate inquiries, saving staff time and keeping discussions focused on substance.
Keep momentum with regular, respectful updates
The engagement didn’t stop when a survey closed. Teams shared milestone recaps, updated project pages frequently, and used newsletters to show how feedback shaped actionable next steps. That cadence turned one‑off input into an ongoing conversation and kept participants returning.
Report back, don’t just collect
The strongest projects treated reporting as part of engagement. Winners posted summaries of input, explained how feedback influenced options, and clarified what happens next. The “closed loop” told residents their time mattered — and sets expectations for future projects.
Blend storytelling with data to earn trust
Clear stories (why this project and why now) paired with visible data (who participated and what themes emerged) strengthened credibility. Where issues were sensitive, teams named the concerns directly and explained how trade‑offs were evaluated — earning respect even when not everyone agreed.
Documentation reduces friction
Winners documented what worked: outreach checklists, moderation guidelines, Q&A escalation paths, and content templates. These reusable playbooks helped other departments spin up engagements quickly and consistently, lowering startup friction across the organization.
Measure what residents feel, then iterate
Beyond counting clicks, winners tracked who participated, which tools people actually used, and what reduced confusion. Those insights fed back into content and outreach choices, improving both equity and efficiency over time.
View a full list of winners.
