National Public Works Week (NPWW) was instituted as a public education campaign by the American Public Works Association (APWA) in 1960. It calls attention to the importance of public works in community life. NPWW seeks to enhance the prestige of the often-unsung heroes of society - the professionals who serve the public good every day with quiet dedication. NPWW is an opportunity to energize and educate the public on the importance of the contributions of public works employees to their daily lives: planning, building, managing and operating the heart of our local communities and building quality of life.

City of Jacksonville Public Works professionals include those who manage and maintain streets, grounds and right-of-ways, waste disposal and recycling, engineering projects, public buildings, landscaping, traffic and real estate. The 530 employees who make up the staffs and crews of the five divisions of the Public Works Department are the people who maintain and improve the systems and services vital to a community’s health, safety and comfort.