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Orleans County Tourism Recognized with Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo)

Orleans County Tourism is honored to have been selected as a recipient of a 2025 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo), in recognition of our 2024 marketing campaign strategies.
 
This national honor highlights the hard work, creativity and dedication of our small but highly committed tourism team. We developed and executed wide-ranging campaigns that included both digital and print advertising efforts. Our messaging reached audiences across multiple platforms and was designed in-house, demonstrating our ability to compete with larger tourism organizations that often rely on outside agencies.
 
These campaigns not only increased awareness of Orleans County as a destination but also helped drive meaningful engagement and economic impact throughout our communities. From highlighting our historic sites and scenic landscapes to promoting seasonal events and local businesses, our marketing efforts were designed to reflect the authentic charm and character of our county.
 
We are truly proud to showcase what makes Orleans County a unique and memorable place to visit. Being recognized on a national stage affirms the value of our work and strengthens our commitment to continuing this important mission.
 
Thank you to NACo for this incredible recognition, and to everyone who supports tourism in Orleans County.
 

Official Press Release from Orleans County Government

 

Two Orleans County Programs Receive National Recognition

Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson today announced that two Orleans County programs, the Orleans County Tourism Advertising campaign and the District Attorney’s Major Felony Crime Task Force, have been recognized with a 2025 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.

“As I have always said, Orleans County has very talented people doing amazing work on behalf of our residents and national awards like this show others outside our area recognize that as well,” said Johnson. “Our Tourism Department and District Attorney’s Office are clearly second to none.”

Each year, NACo’s Achievement Awards recognize outstanding programming in 18 categories aligned with the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, libraries, management, information technology, health, civic engagement and more.

Launched in 1970, the program is designed to celebrate innovation in county government. Each nominated program is judged on its own merits and not against other applications.

“The Achievement Awards shine a spotlight on the hard work and innovation happening in county governments across the nation,” said NACo President James Gore. “This year’s winners highlight the dedication and creativity of county leaders and our teams to building thriving communities and providing the best possible services to our residents.”

The Tourism Department was recognized for its 2024 advertising campaign that used significant in-house resources to develop marketing campaign across multiple platforms.

“Our Tourism Department, led by Dawn Borchert, may be small with two-full and two part-time employees, but we still produced creative and effective marketing campaigns that competed with large tourism organizations that have budgets to hire outside ad agencies,” said Johnson. “Tourism is a major driver for our local economy and these marketing efforts are showing a demonstrable impact.”

The District Attorney’s Office was recognized for its Major Felony Crime Task Force, whose purpose is to combat the increasingly complex and destructive issues of drug abuse, trafficking, related violence and major felony crimes. The coordination of various law enforcement agencies within the county and outside of it, form a united front against this growing problem.

“We applaud District Attorney Susan Howard and all those involved in the Major Felony Crime Task Force for maximizing law enforcement resources to fight serious crime and keep our communities safe,” said Johnson. “Not only has this been an effective tool in fighting drug crimes and related behaviors, it also is a great example of how coordination across multiple entities at the local level can produce significant results.”

The Tourism Department and District Attorney’s Office will be recognized for their NACo awards at this coming Tuesday’s meeting of the Orleans County Legislature.

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