Town of Canandaigua Earns New York State Town of Excellence Gold Designation
The Town of Canandaigua has been named a New York State Town of Excellence, earning Gold designation from the New York Association of Towns (NYAOT) and joining twelve other towns statewide to receive this prestigious recognition in the program’s inaugural year.
The Towns of Excellence Program honors municipalities that demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation, and a strong commitment to their communities. Towns are evaluated across multiple categories, including economic development, sustainability and sound planning, community engagement, quality of life, governance and transparency, and workforce development.
The Town of Canandaigua’s application highlighted a strong culture of collaboration, forward-thinking planning, and meaningful resident engagement — supported by dedicated Town staff, active boards and committees, and a community that consistently participates in shaping local initiatives and programs.
The Town’s application for the Towns of Excellence program was submitted in November 2025 under the leadership of then-Supervisor Jared Simpson, reflecting years of collective work by Town staff, volunteers, boards, and residents to strengthen services, transparency, and community life.
“This recognition belongs to the people who show up every day for the Town of Canandaigua — our dedicated staff, engaged residents, volunteers, and community partners,” said former Town Supervisor Jared Simpson. “The Towns of Excellence designation reflects a shared commitment to thoughtful governance, strong public service, and a community that cares deeply about where it’s headed.”
Town Supervisor Don Cotter added, “The Towns of Excellence designation reflects the strength of our Town staff, the dedication of our volunteers, and the continued engagement of our residents. This recognition is a testament to a community that values collaboration, service, and thoughtful stewardship of local government.”
The Town of Canandaigua will be formally honored at NYAOT’s 2026 Annual Meeting and will be featured on the organization’s Towns of Excellence webpage. The Town is also authorized to display the official Towns of Excellence badge on municipal materials and its website.