For release: February 20, 2024
Sustaining Fort Wayne Wins Mayor Henry National Honor
Third Award for Leading the Way to Protect the Environment
Fort Wayne, Indiana — The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) has honored Mayor Tom Henry with the 2024 National Environmental Achievement Award for Public Service by an elected official.
The agency recognizes two municipal elected officials each year. One award goes to utilities serving under 250,000 people, and the other for those serving over 250,000 people. Mayor Henry’s accolade was for the larger category. It’s the third time Mayor Henry has received the national award. He also received the award in 2015 and 2019.
Award presenters recognized Mayor Henry’s support for improved and reliable water and sewer services, along with his strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.
NACWA touted sustainability efforts, including expanding the City Utilities’ methane power generation efforts, working with restaurants to turn grease into power and establishing the microgrid with floating solar panels for an additional power supply to our water and sewer plants. Also cited as accomplishments were his ongoing support for the Long-Term Control Plan to protect our rivers and the three-year Clean Drains Fort Wayne partnership with Friends of the Rivers to paint 100 storm drain murals and clean and mark more than 8,000 drains with the help of 1,200 residents. The capstone of 2023’s initiatives was developing Sustaining Fort Wayne, the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
“It is NACWA’s great honor to bestow this year’s National Environmental Achievement Awards on these exceptional awardees who represent the best in public service and environmental stewardship. Their efforts reflect the public water sector’s values, hard work and innovation,” said Adam Krantz, Chief Executive Officer of NACWA.