RECOGNIZING, REWARDING, REPLICATING

In 1989, Florida TaxWatch and two of its co-founders, J.E. Davis and A.D. Davis (owners and co-founders of Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.), created an awards program to inspire, reward, and recognize enterprising state employees for innovative and cost-effective accomplishments.

Even though the Davis brothers are no longer with us today, their wisdom, strength, and unwavering commitment to serving taxpayers lives on through today’s awards program. The program is a major government improvement initiative co-sponsored by Florida TaxWatch, The Florida Council of 100, and the state of Florida. In addition to Kyra's generous support, numerous corporate, individual and philanthropic contributors supplement the awards program.

These awards acknowledge achievements in areas such as process improvement, technology integration, and creative problem-solving. Past winners come from nearly every state agency in Florida, and include everyone from university professors, to transportation safety workers, to environmental engineers; awards like these show that Florida truly has the nation’s best public employees, and we are excited to see what groundbreaking ideas and actions are still to come.

The Productivity Awards not only serve as a platform to showcase success stories but also inspire a culture of continuous improvement within the public sector. By acknowledging and sharing these achievements, the program aims to foster a collaborative environment that encourages employees to think outside the box and implement forward-thinking strategies.

The recognition provided by the Productivity Awards not only boosts morale among government employees but also emphasizes the importance of innovation in addressing the evolving needs of the community. Ultimately, this program plays a crucial role in elevating the standard of public service in Florida by celebrating those who go above and beyond in their pursuit of excellence and efficiency.

AWARDS EVENT

NOMINATION DETAILS

In this, its thirty-fifth year, Florida TaxWatch and the Florida Council of 100 are proud to reinvigorate and reenergize the Productivity Awards. Aimed at recognizing and rewarding excellence in productivity, the awards highlight individuals and teams who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to finding innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and effectiveness in public service.

Nominations are due by midnight on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

Please note the following prior to submitting nominations:

Where teams have self-nominated in prior years, this year’s award recipients will come from nominations made by agency leadership. Ten nominated teams will receive a $2,500 cash prize at the Productivity Awards event on December 6, 2023.

• Each state agency may submit up to two nominations. Should an agency submit more, the first two received will be considered. Should a joint-agency project or implementation be nominated, that will be counted separately from an agency's other nominations.
• Nominations may recognize an individual or a team of up to ten people. Florida TaxWatch and the Florida Council of 100 will honor ten achievements from those nominated; each individual OR team will receive a (1) plaque and a total cash prize of $2,500.
• Though all information provided will be considered in prize decisions, the Productivity Awards place a premium on recognizing and rewarding (1) innovation, and (2) real cost-savings/cost-efficiencies.
• To be eligible for a cash award the nomination must present a convincing case that the project or implementation really did save as much money as claimed. Savings should not be nebulous, such as, for example, “time savings from faster traffic.”  The same is true for innovation.  Innovative projects have never been done before or "break the mold" with true “outside-the-box” or highly creative thinking and/or problem solving. Particularly for innovative projects or implementations, please highlight any aspects that may be a "first-in-Florida," "first-in-the-nation," or of particular national significance.
• Merely doing one’s job very well does not support a Productivity Award.  Most top achievements are reached by demonstrating above average initiative and/or perseverance and extra effort.  If an achievement is worthy of recognition, this initiative, perseverance, and effort must be extensively detailed to show it is beyond the norm of the individual or team’s job description.
• Some achievements may affect the private sector in a positive way.  Let us know how the achievement reduced time, effort, or expenses faced by the private sector and whether it created jobs or expanded a business in Florida.
• Increasing efficiency whether through reduced time or labor is a reliable measure of achievement and usually produces significant savings.  If the savings were achieved as the direct result of increasing efficiency the process must be explained in plain, easy-to-understand language. 
• Another indicator of an "above and beyond" achievement is that is has been, or can be, patented or copyrighted.  Explain what makes your nominated achievement eligible for a patent or copyright.
• Of course, many worthy nominations don’t neatly lend themselves to evaluation under traditional criteria.  There may be unusual, external circumstances that distinguish the nomination.  These types of nominations are important to widen the variety of achievements considered, broadening the program. For these nominations, please share as much information as possible for judges' evaluation.

A Thanks to the 2023 Government Productivity Awards' Wonderful Sponsors:

If you are interested in sponsoring, please contact Ana Hamil at ahamil@floridataxwatch.org or 850.222.5052.