Los Angeles County Development Authority Receives National Achievement Award

Excellence Awarded for Charging the Way Towards Cleaner Transportation

July 20, 2026 – The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) was recently presented with an Award of Excellence from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for its Charge Up Carmelitos initiative in the County Resiliency: Infrastructure, Energy, and Sustainability Category. The annual NACo Achievement Awards recognize outstanding County programs that celebrate innovation, deliver meaningful results for residents, and strengthen communities.

The LACDA received recognition for its innovative approach in advancing environmental equity by providing 20 Level 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations, as well as access to energy cost savings and resources at the Carmelitos Public Housing community, one of the largest public housing communities owned and operated by the LACDA.  The 713-unit community, which includes 588 family units and 155 senior units, lacked access to onsite EV charging and limited resident access to EV technology and benefits.

The  award highlights the partnership between the LACDA, the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department, Southern California Edison, and PowerFlex, to provide residents at the site an opportunity to reduce fuel expenses, prevent range anxiety by making ports accessible within walking distance from their home, improve air quality by reducing emissions in the community, and the opportunity to participate in State and utility incentive programs. Additionally, the charging ports reduce reliance on public charging locations and strengthen the County’s broader efforts to expand EV charging infrastructure across public facilities.

“We are pleased to be awarded the NACo Award of Excellence for this important initiative that provides our public housing residents the opportunity to participate in clean energy options,” said Emilio Salas, LACDA Executive Director. “This recognition reflects our commitment towards providing equal opportunity to modern technology advancement while also overcoming infrastructure limitations and funding constraints with great appreciation to our partners.”

As one of the initiative's core partners Minh Le, General Manager of the County of Los Angeles Internal Services Department Energy and Environmental Services stated, “By deploying affordable electric vehicle technology, we are directly advancing the County’s goal of facilitating the transition to cleaner transportation for all residents. This community-centered initiative serves as a scalable blueprint for expanding sustainable mobility throughout the County.”

Each year, NACo’s Achievement Awards recognize outstanding programming in 18 categories aligned with the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include County resiliency, children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, libraries, management, information technology, health, civic engagement, and more. Launched in 1970, the Achievement Awards are designed to celebrate innovation in County government. To learn more about the Achievement Awards, click here.