Below are some of the awards, honors and recognition that the Town of Holly Springs has received in recent years, plus other honors that reflect on the community.

 2019

Holly Springs Ranked #1 Safest City in North Carolina

December 2019

Holly Springs ranked #1 as the safest city in North Carolina in an analysis of data on violent and property crimes per capita according to HomeSnacks. 

 Holly Springs Receives National Budget Presentation Award

December 2019

The Town of Holly Springs has received a national budget award for demonstrating best practices. Last year, the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award was given to only 1,604 government entities, such as local government agencies, school districts and community colleges, out of about 90,000 such entities in the United States.

The association assesses how well a budget serves as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communications device.

This is the first time the Town of Holly Springs has received the award.

Holly Springs Farmers Market #4 in Southeast, #1 in North Carolina

September 2019
The Holly Springs Farmers Market ranked #4 in the Southeast and #1 in North Carolina in the American Farmland Trust Farmers Market Celebration contest. The market has been voted the #1 market in the state for the last several years. 

Holly Springs Ranked Fifth Best Place in North Carolina to Raise a Family 

June 2019
The financial advice website WalletHub ranked Holly Springs fifth best in N.C. after analyzing 87 cities and towns on 21 factors of family-friendliness. Groupings of factors included family life and fun; education, health and safety; and affordability. 

Holly Springs Tops List of Best Cities in N.C. to Get a Job

May 2019
Holly Springs ranked first in Zippia's 2019 list of Best Cities for Jobs in N.C. The website ranked 40 municipalities with at least 5,000 people on criteria including current unemployment rate, unemployment rate change year to year; current median household income, and change in median household income from year to year.

Holly Springs Named Safest City in North Carolina 

April 2019
Holly Springs was ranked the #1 Safest City in North Carolina by SafeWise. FBI crime report statistics and population data were reviewed as part of the ranking system.

Holly Springs Top-Ranked in Triangle Area, Third in State, for Safety 

February 2019
Holly Springs was the top-ranked town in the Triangle area and third statewide in The Home Security Advisor’s 2019 Guide to North Carolina’s 50 Safest Cities. The ranking applies to cities and towns with at least 10,000 population.

Holly Springs Ranks Among Best Places to Live in N.C. 

January 2019
Holly Springs ranked fourth in the website HomeSnacks' Best Places to Live in N.C.for 2019.

 2018

Holly Springs Receives Anthemion Award for Historic Preservation

September 2018
Capital Area Preservation honored the town for its recently-adopted incentives to preserve historic structures. The award was in recognition of outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in historic preservation in Wake County.

Holly Springs Ranks #1 in Safety

September 2018
Holly Springs ranks #1 as the safest city in N.C. in a comparison of FBI Crime Report and population data compiled by the home security company SafeWise. 

Holly Springs Police Recruitment Video Earns National Award

September 2018
The Holly Springs police recruitment video placed third in the National City-County Communications & Marketing Association's promotional video contest.

Holly Springs Farmers Market is North Carolina’s Favorite 

September 2018
The Holly Springs Farmers Market was voted North Carolina’s Favorite Farmers Market - seven years in a row according to the 2018 American Farmland Trust Farmers Market Celebration contest.

Holly Springs Ranks Seventh in Affordability

July 2018
According to a financial analysis website SmartAsset, Holly Springs ranks among the top 10 towns in the state for affordability, taking into consideration home prices, median income, mortgage payments and more.

Planning Association Recognizes Holly Springs' Main Street

May 2018
Main Street has been recognized as a Great Main Street in the Making by the N.C. chapter of the American Planning Association in its 2018 Great Places in N.C. awards program. The awards panel noted that Holly Springs has "a plan in place, public dollars invested, public-private partnerships, and developers on the ground."

Town Awarded Erosion and Sedimentation Control Program of the Year - Small Program

May 2018
The N.C. Sedimentation Control Commission recognized the town program that helps prevent water pollution from sedimentation. Holly Springs’ program was nominated by the Raleigh Regional Office, which noted the town program “excels in regard to frequency and effectiveness of their inspections;” appears to have forged strong working relationships between staff and the developers and contractors they regulate; and has a “well-designed website, which provides valuable information in a concise and easy-to-navigate package.”

Town Receives Two Awards in Statewide Communications Association Contest

April 2018
The Department of Public Affairs and Communications received first place and second place awards for video in the N.C. City and County Communicators annual contest. The awards were presented during the NC3C conference in New Bern.

2017

Holly Springs Tops Safest Cities in N.C. List

Holly Springs ranked as the safest municipality in N.C. with a population of at least 28,000, according to the website safehome.org.

Park Earns Honor from Tennis Magazine

January 2017

Tennis Industry magazine named North Main Athletic Complex (now Ting Park) as the Public Park of the Year. The magazine noted that what had been a "borrow pit" for soil was now the site of one of the state's premier sporting facilities.

2016  

Holly Springs Among 2016 Best Small Cities in America

November 2016
Holly Springs ranked seventh nationally and the top small city in N.C. in the financial advice website WalletHub's analysis of 30 key indicators of livability. WalletHub compared 1,268 cities nationwide between 25,000 and 100,000 population on criteria such as affordability, economic health, education, safety, and quality of life.

Bass Lake Park Places Second in N.C. Wedding Spot Awards 

October 2016
Bass Lake Park was selected as the second best wedding venue in N.C. by Wedding Spot. Its natural elegance was noted for bringing the "perfect blend of sophistication and simplicity of nature" to weddings held at the facility.

Holly Springs Video Wins National Communications Award

September 2016
The Department of Public Affairs and Communications was one of seven North Carolina agencies receiving recognition at the national City & County Communications and Marketing Association's 28th annual conference.  The Holly Springs DPAC team earned the Town's first-ever first-place Savvy Award for a promotional video telling the story of the Town's logo image.

Holly Springs Farmers Market Rated as Favorite Farmers Market in State, 11th Nationwide

September 2016
The Holly Springs Farmers Market once again was rated as the #1 favorite farmers market in North Carolina by American Farmland Trust. The town market was rated 11th favorite market nationwide. This was the sixth consecutive year the market ranked as one of the top three markets in the state, and the fifth year it earned the #1 position.

Holly Springs Wins Five Statewide Communications Awards

April 2016
The Department of Public Affairs and Communications received two first-place and three second-place awards during the N.C. City & County Communicators ninth annual conference.

Holly Springs Ranks as Safest Town in N.C. and 51st Safest in U.S

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February 2016
Holly Springs has been ranked as the safest town in N.C. with 25,000 or more people and the 51st safest in the country by the neighborhood search engine NeighborhoodScout. The Web site's America's Top 100 Safest Cities rankings are based on the total number of crimes reported to the FBI per 1,000 population. The crimes are burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, homicide, rape, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. 

Holly Springs Ranks as Second Safest Town in N.C.

February 2016
Holly Springs has been ranked as the second safest town in the state by the home security and financial Web site CreditDonkey. The Web site ranked towns with populations of 5,000 or more using FBI crime reports for 2014. CreditDonkey compared violent crime and property crimes per capita, giving added weight to robbery and burglary. Pinehurst ranked No. 1.  
  

2015

Town Honored for Excellence in Financial Reporting

July 2015
Holly Springs received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The award is for the Town's comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

Holly Springs Ranked Fifth Safest City in N.C.

June 2015
Holly Springs ranks as the fifth safest town in N.C. in a comparison of FBI Crime Report data compiled by the home security company SafeWise. It was the second year in a row that Holly Springs was ranked as the safest town in the Triangle area.

Holly Springs Ranks Sixth in N.C. in Affordability

January 2015
The financial technology company SmartAsset ranked Holly Springs the sixth most affordable place in N.C. in which to buy a home. The rankings show closing costs, taxes, insurance and mortgage payments for the average home over five years as a proportion of median household income.

Holly Springs Third Safest Place in N.C.

January 2015
Holly Springs ranked third on the Safest Places in N.C. list by real estate research blog Movoto. The list was based on FBI crime statistics.

Police Traffic Team Receives Award from MADD

February 2015
Police traffic team officers were given the N.C. chapter of MADD’s Hero Award in underage drinking prevention for their own “Survive 2 Drive NC” program

Holly Springs Third Best City for Young Families in N.C.

February 2015
Holly Springs ranked third in NerdWallet's Best Cities for Young Families in North Carolina list. Home affordability, prosperity and growth, quality of education, and family friendliness were considered.

2014

Holly Springs Second Safest City in N.C.

April 2014
Holly Springs ranked second on the 50 Safest Cities in N.C. list compiled by SafeWise. The home security business's report used 2012 violent and property crimes reported to the FBI and based chance of occurrence per 1,000 population.

Holly Springs Ranks Seventh Most Affordable Town in N.C.

April 2014
The real estate research blog Movoto ranked Holly Springs seventh in affordability among 83 towns in N.C. with a population of at least 10,000.

Holly Springs Ranked No. 1 Among Best Places in N.C. for Home Ownership

March 2014
Holly Springs ranked first in NerdWallet's Best Places for Homeownership in North Carolina list. Factors considered in forming the list included home availability and affordability, as well as area growth.

2013

Holly Springs Listed as a Traffic Safe Community

December 2013
Holly Springs was listed by AAA Carolinas as a Traffic Safe Community and was one of the three towns with populations between 10,000 and 30,000 selected statewide. Traffic safe communities are selected by looking at crash statistics, number of law enforcement officers per capita and presence of formal traffic safety programs.

Holly Springs Listed Among Best Cities in N.C.

November 2013
Holly Springs ranked 12th among the 50 Best Cities in N.C in a study by Movoto, a real estate research blog. Movoto considered cost of living, crime rate, education, median household income, home values, and amenities.

Holly Springs Ranked Among Best Places in N.C. for Job Seekers

October 2013
Holly Springs was ranked second by NerdWallet in a list of the best places in North Carolina for job seekers. The Town's population growth, median household income and median monthly homeowner costs were considered, as well as the Town's proximity to top health and life science employers.

Holly Springs Farmers Market Voted Top Farmers Market in North Carolina and United States

October 2013
The Farmers Market in the Holly Springs Village District, managed and operated by the Department of Planning & Zoning, was voted as the Top Farmers Market in North Carolina and was among the Top 100 Most Celebrated Farmers Markets in the United States in the American Farm Land Trust’s I Love My Farmers Market™ contest, an online national contest that helps Americans show their support for their favorite farmers markets and helps markets raise their visibility.

Town Honored for Excellence in Financial Reporting

September 2013
For the eighth consecutive year, Holly Springs has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The award is for the Town's comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

Holly Springs Among Best N.C. Towns for Young Families

July 2013
The consumer advocacy website NerdWallet ranked Holly Springs third in the state in its survey of best N.C. towns for young families. The financial literacy website based its rankings on public schools, home value, cost of home ownership, average income and economic growth.

Communications Staff Earns Two Awards at Statewide Conference

March 2013
The Town of Holly Springs' Department of Public Affairs and Communications received two honors during the third annual Excellence in Communications Awards presented in March 2013 by the North Carolina City and County Communicators (NC3C).

2012

Bloomberg Businessweek: The Best Place to Raise Kids in North Carolina

December 2012
Bloomberg Businessweek and Bloomberg Rankings evaluated more than 3,200 places nationwide with populations from 5,000 to 50,000. Bloomberg looked at such metrics as public school performance, safety, housing costs, commute time, poverty, adults’ educational attainment, share of households with children, and diversity. To gauge the local job market, Bloomberg also weighed median income and unemployment.

Link to full story

Holly Springs Listed as a Traffic Safe Community

December 2012
Holly Springs was listed by AAA Carolinas as a Traffic Safe Community and was one of the five towns with populations between 10,000 and 30,000 selected statewide. Traffic safe communities are selected by looking at crash statistics, number of law enforcement officers per capita and presence of formal traffic safety programs.

Parks & Recreation Staff Earns Award at Statewide Conference

November 2012
Parks and Recreation Athletics Program Manager Kristen Denton received the 2012 Young Professional of the Year award during the annual North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association state conference. Denton was recognized for her dedication and experience in the field of Parks and Recreation at a luncheon held by the NCRPA in Greenville, NC.

Holly Springs Farmers Market Voted Favorite Farmers Market in North Carolina

October 2012
The Farmers Market in the Holly Springs Village District, managed and operated by the Department of Planning & Zoning, was voted as the No. 1 Favorite Overall and Mid-Sized Farmers Market in North Carolina, No. 7 Favorite Mid-Sized Market in the United States in the American Farm Land Trust’s America’s Favorite Farmers Market™ contest, an online national contest that helps Americans show their support for their favorite farmers markets and helps markets raise their visibility.

Town Receives Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting

September 2012
For the seventh consecutive year, Holly Springs received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The award is for the Town's comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

2011

Holly Springs Farmers Market Voted Favorite Small Farmers Market in North Carolina

October 2011
The Farmers Market in the Holly Springs Village District, managed and operated by the Department of Planning & Zoning, was voted as the Favorite Small Farmers Market in North Carolina, No. 2 Favorite Overall Market in North Carolina and the No. 17 Favorite Small Market in the United States in the American Farm Land Trust’s America’s Favorite Farmers Market™ contest, an online national contest that helps Americans show their support for their favorite farmers markets and helps markets raise their visibility.

Holly Springs Census 2010 Media Blitz Receives Award

October 2011
The Town of Holly Springs' Department of Planning & Zoning and the Holly Springs Sun received the Marvin Collins Outstanding Planning Award for the media campaign regarding the importance of participation in the 2010 U.S. Census from the N.C. Chapter of the American Planning Association. The award recognizes plans, programs or processes of unusually high merit that have been completed within the past two years.

Town Receives Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting

September 2011
Holly Springs has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for the sixth consecutive year. The award is for the Town's comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

Communications Staff Earns Two Awards at Statewide Conference

April 2011

The Town of Holly Springs' Department of Public Affairs and Communications and the Department of Parks and Recreation received two honors during the third annual Excellence in Communications Awards presented in April 2011 by the North Carolina City and County Communicators (NC3C.)

2010

Town Honored for Excellence in Financial Reporting

September 2010
Holly Springs has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The award is for the Town's comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

Communications Staff Earns Six Awards at Statewide Conference

April 2010

The Town of Holly Springs' Department of Public Affairs and Communications received six honors during the second annual Excellence in Communications Awards presented April 29 by the North Carolina City and County Communicators (NC3C.)

2009

Town Honored for Excellence in Financial Reporting

September 2009
Holly Springs has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The award is for the Town's comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

Holly Springs Included Among "America's Top 100 Places to Live"

April 2009

For the second straight year, the consumers directory Relocate America named Holly Springs to its list of "America's Top 100 Places to Live." Communities were chosen based on growth outlook and ability to rebound from the nation's recession, as well as government and business leadership in the community.

2008

Pedestrian Transportation Plan Receives Award

September 2008
The Town of Holly Springs' Pedestrian Transportation Plan received an award from the N.C. Chapter of the American Planning Association. The award recognizes plans, programs or processes of unusually high merit that have been adopted with the past two years.

Town Recognized for Excellence in Financial Reporting

September 2008
The Governmental Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada awarded Holly Springs a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The award was for the Town's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

2007

Holly Springs Recognized for Recruitment of Life Sciences Manufacturing

September 2007

The International Economic Development Council awarded Holly Springs with an Honorable Mention for the Town's marketing campaign to attract life sciences manufacturing facilities. The years-long effort paid off when Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics announced in July 2006 that it would build a flu vaccine facility here.

Town Recognized for Excellence in Financial Reporting

September 2007
The Governmental Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada awarded Holly Springs a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The award was for the Town's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

Forbes Magazine Ranks Holly Springs 18th Fastest Growing Suburb in U.S.

August 2007

Money Magazine Lists Holly Springs Among Top Towns in U.S.

July 2007

Money Magazine named Holly Springs one of the best places to live in the country, ranking it 22nd among 100 Great American Towns. Holly Springs was one of three North Carolina towns on the list.

"Some places have everything any family could want - economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a sense of community," CNNMoney.com wrote in naming the best smaller places to live.

Novartis Recruitment Earns Industry Recognition

May 2007
Novartis' recruitment to Holly Springs was named one of the "Top Deals in North America" by a trade publication for executives who decide where businesses locate. Site Selection magazine based its Top 20 list on factors including capital investment, jobs, regional impact, creativity and intensity of the competition.

Town Earns New Industry Award

February 2007
Triangle Business Journal honored the Town's Novartis project with one of the publication's annual commercial real estate awards. The Town and Novartis received the business journal's SPACE Award in the Economic Development: New Industry category.

Wake County School System Tops Nation in Teacher Certification

January 2007

The Wake County Public School System has the largest corps of teachers to earn certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards of any school system in the nation.

2006

Town Honored for Excellence in Financial Reporting

July 2006
The Governmental Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada awarded Holly Springs a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The award was for the Town's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. A panel cited the Town's "spirit of full disclosure."

Erosion Control Program Receives State Award

February 2006

The N.C. Sedimentation Control Commission gave the Town of Holly Springs' sedimentation and erosion control program an award for overall excellence. It was the second such award in three years.

2005

Money Magazine Ranks Holly Springs Among Best Places to Retire in N.C.

October 2005

Holly Springs ranked among the state's 20 contenders for best places to retire in the magazine's annual nationwide study. The magazine included towns with more than 14,000 people, above-median household income, population growth, and real-estate appreciation over the previous five years.

Money Magazine Ranks Holly Springs Among Best Places to Live in N.C.

July 2005
Holly Springs ranked among the state's 20 contenders for best places places to live in the magazine's annual nationwide study. MONEY magazine and CNN/Money spent months looking for great American towns "where you would want to raise your children and celebrate life's milestones."

Holly Springs Ranked Safest N.C. Municipality with More Than 10,000 People

April 2005
Holly Springs ranked as the state's safest municipality with a population of more than 10,000 people. The Shelby Star newspaper conducted the study, comparing crime numbers for 55 N.C. municipalities. The numbers for violent crimes in each municipality were divided by that municipality's population and multiplied by 1,000.

2004

Holly Springs Town Hall Wins Award

May 2004

Holly Springs Town Hall received the Community Enhancement Award from the Triangle Commercial Real Estate Women association. The award goes to a public or non-profit project that enhances the community's economics, aesthetics, quality of life, etc.