The City of Monroe has snagged the top spot in the North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) 2025 Excellence in Communications Awards, outshining 27 other jurisdictions with its clever use of humor to deliver serious messages. On April 10, as detailed in a City of Monroe's official announcement, the award was handed out during the annual conference in Asheville where creativity in communication was both celebrated and scrutinized by peers from the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators.
Competing with 179 entries from 47 local government organizations, Monroe's Police Department demonstrated, winning the first place for its "The Grinch Who Got Busted: A Holiday Crime Prevention PSA." It’s a festive video that features a Grinch character, intent on thievery, but is instead caught by a police K9 officer. It wasn’t only about humor; the video aimed to puncture the comfortable veneer of holiday shopping by reminding viewers of increased car break-ins. While the piece was entertaining, the underlying message was clear and necessary, giving Monroe's communication strategy an edge over a heap of submissions.
NC3C’s President Kaisha Brown lauded the record-breaking participation and quality of submissions this year, saying, "As the competition grows each year, the level of skill and expertise needed to win these awards continues to rise." She continued, "Every person who entered should be proud of their work," she told the attendees, as confirmed by the City of Monroe official announcement. All winners, including the City of Monroe, were congratulated by the NC3C Board.
The City of Monroe received praise for its inventive approach, having effectively melded humor and social impact in a way that kept folks watching and talking. The city manager, Mark Watson, basked in the success of the city's PSAs, saying, "This award is a reflection of the innovative and collaborative spirit that exists across our City." And in the busy holiday season, Watson noted, "It’s encouraging to see our team use humor and creativity to reach the public with meaningful safety messages." His comments were lifted from a statement on the city's website. This victory marks Monroe’s continued dedication to engaging with its community creatively, bagging their second Excellence in Communications Award in three years.
