Bedford DPW received national accreditation on July 12, 2022!

The first Public Works agency in New Hampshire to earn accreditation.

The Town of Bedford DPW has been a member of the American Public Works Association (APWA) since 1990. APWA serves professionals in all aspects of public works. With 30,000 members worldwide, APWA includes not only personnel from local, county, state/province, and federal agencies, but also private sector personnel who supply products and services to those professionals. 

After 3 challenging years, a global pandemic, and transitions with staff, we are excited to announce that the Town of Bedford Department of Public Works (DPW) was officially awarded full accreditation by the APWA Accreditation Council on July 12, 2022. The Bedford Department of Public Works is the 196th accredited agency in the nation and is also honored to be the first agency in the State of New Hampshire to earn this distinction. 

This accreditation formally verifies and recognizes that the agency is in full compliance with the recommended management practices set forth in APWA’s Public Works Management Practices Manual. Initial accreditation from the APWA is for a four-year period, during which time semi-annual updates will be required to demonstrate continuing compliance. At the end of the 4 years there is a re-accreditation process which builds on the original accreditation, encouraging continuous improvement and compliance with newly identified practices.  

The Bedford Department of Public Works has taken many lessons from this process and more than ever, sees the value in communication, commitment, teamwork, improvement, and organization. This could not have been achieved without the help and support of all of our staff as well as other Town Departments. These skills will help us move forward in serving our community to the best of our ability and keeping Bedford moving.

Accreditation plaque presentation at the Bedford Town Council Meeting on September 28, 2022.