City of Rancho Cordova
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Awards and Accomplishments
Since the city incorporated in 2003, Rancho Cordova has experienced noteworthy accomplishments that have made our community a place to live, work, learn and play. In addition, the city has received awards recognizing excellence in many disciplines through the years. Following are highlights of the city’s accomplishments and recent awards.
Accomplishments
Each year, the Rancho Cordova mayor presents an annual State of the City address to highlight what our community has accomplished during the past year and announce projects and programs that are coming soon.
2024 & 2025 Highlights
As of 2025, Rancho Cordova ranks as the 5th fastest-growing city in California (among cities over 30,000 residents), with a 3.2% population increase from January 2024 to January 2025—far outpacing the state average of 0.28%. The city's growth is fueled by a booming housing market, leading the region in new home sales (620 in 2024) and issuing a record 1,100 development permits.
Beyond housing, the city is investing in public safety with a Real-Time Information Center, seeing a citywide crime reduction, and supporting a thriving business ecosystem with 3,500 businesses and 65,000 workers.
Recent Awards
June 2026 — APWA Manager of the Year, Engineering and Technology: Kristine Courdy, Principal Civil Engineer, was recognized by the Sacramento Chapter of the American Public Works Association for her leadership and contributions to major Public Works projects, including Sunrise Boulevard Phase Four and the Chase Drive/American River Parkway Connection Project.
June 2026 — APWA Manager of the Year, Transportation: Maria Lopez, Operations & Maintenance Manager, was recognized by the Sacramento Chapter of the American Public Works Association for her leadership of the city’s transportation and solid waste operations and more than two decades of service to Rancho Cordova.
March 2026 — Women in Data 10th Anniversary Gala Recognition: Rita Gass, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, was honored for her leadership in advancing innovation and expanding opportunities for women in technology, including her work to establish the region’s first AI robotics ecosystem.
February 2026 — CSMFO Operating Budget Excellence Award: The City of Rancho Cordova Finance Department was recognized by the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers for meeting high standards in governmental budgeting and effective budget presentation.
January 2026 — Innovative Transportation Solutions Project of the Year Award: The City of Rancho Cordova Public Works Department was recognized by the Women’s Transportation Seminar Sacramento Chapter for the Chase Drive/American River Parkway Connection Project and its improvements to multimodal access and community connections.
January 2026 — GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award: The City of Rancho Cordova Finance Department was recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association for meeting nationally recognized guidelines for effective governmental budgeting and budget presentation.
November 2025 — 2025 Capstone Challenge Award: The City of Rancho Cordova Human Resources and Finance Departments were recognized by the National League of Cities for modernizing employee information and payroll systems to increase automation, streamline operations and improve employee access to information.
June 2025 — Women Who Mean Business Awards: Five women from Rancho Cordova were honored at the Sacramento Business Journal’s 30th annual Women Who Mean Business Awards & Expo for leadership in health, finance, nonprofit work, technology and economic development, highlighting Rancho Cordova’s growing influence in the regional business community.
May 2025 — Tree City USA: The City of Rancho Cordova was recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA for the fifth consecutive year for its commitment to growing, maintaining and caring for the community’s urban forest.
October 2024 — PRSA Awards: The City of Rancho Cordova Communications team, in partnership with Art of Marketing, earned three awards from the California Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America for the Food Waste Recycling campaign, Rancho Cordova Youth Center’s first birthday and City Flower campaign, recognizing excellence in communications campaigns, community relations and media relations.
2024 — APWA Project of the Year, Mather Field Road Rehabilitation: The City of Rancho Cordova Public Works Department received a Project of the Year Award from the Sacramento Chapter of the American Public Works Association for rehabilitating Mather Field Road with pavement improvements, ADA upgrades, medians, landscaping and traffic-signal enhancements to improve safety and extend the roadway’s useful life.
2024 — APWA Project of the Year, Bear Hollow Stormwater Basin and Trail Beautification: The City of Rancho Cordova Public Works Department received a Project of the Year Award from the Sacramento Chapter of the American Public Works Association for improvements that reduce flooding, filter stormwater runoff and enhance public access to the basin’s natural environment along the Stone Creek Community Bike Trail.
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