Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) has been recognized with one of the region’s highest honors for public outreach by the Public Relations Society of America’s Inland Empire (PRSA-IE) Chapter.
EMWD was presented with the Aaron Norris “Spirit of Public Relations” award during the PRSA-IE Polaris Awards Gala on November 8, 2024. The award recognizes an organization’s commitment to creativity, adaptability, and excellence, and is named after Norris, who was a past president of the PRSA-IE chapter before his passing in 2022.
The award highlights the work of EMWD’s Public and Governmental Affairs staff. The department is responsible for community outreach to a service area comprising nearly 1 million customers and supports a wide range of organizational initiatives. This includes:
· Proactive outreach in support of EMWD’s five-year, $785 million Capital Improvement Plan. The department proactively informs its ratepayers about upcoming construction projects by explaining the scope, timing, and anticipated impacts, while also highlighting the need and benefits of the work being performed. This is done through community workshops, special mailings, and targeted outreach through social media.
· Supporting EMWD’s grants and loans program, which has secured more than $700 million in state and federal funding over the past two decades to offset ratepayer investments in infrastructure. The department creates collateral materials, hosts briefings and tours, and is instrumental in advancing legislative support for funding programs to return customer tax dollars back to the community.
· Modernizing EMWD’s education program by engaging students through Career Technical Education programs and expanded outreach programs with area schools. From elementary school through graduation, outreach is conducted using curriculum that meets Common Core standards and provides a pathway toward water industry careers.
· A wide range of other outreach initiatives, including community events, regular customer communication materials, and social media efforts that engage and inform the community.
EMWD also was honored with a Capella Award in the Environmental Sustainability Communications category for its Strategic Priorities Progress Report. That report highlights EMWD’s ongoing environmental, social and governance initiatives and how those efforts support EMWD’s triennial Strategic Plan.
“EMWD is committed to being an industry leader in customer engagement,” EMWD Board President Phil Paule said. “We wish to thank PRSA-IE for recognizing the high-quality work that our organization has achieved, and we look forward to continuing to find new and creative ways to engage and inform those we serve.”