ORANGE COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Orange County has received national recognition for two projects, one deploying broadband Internet to unserved and underserved communities and the other highlighting Black history, agriculture and culinary industries.

According to a release, the county received Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties, which honors government programs that aim to strengthen services for residents.

The first deals with getting more Orange County residents connected to reliable, high-speed broadband Internet service.

“Being recognized nationally for our broadband initiative is the culmination of the board’s vision to overcome the traditional market-based, regulatory and geographic obstacles that have delayed broadband access to rural residents for more than 30 years,” said County Administrator Theodore Voorhees.

The release says that within four years of Orange County Broadband Authority’s deployment through FiberLync, more than 360 miles of fiber were laid, connecting more than 3,500 subscribers.

This represents 60 percent of the previously unserved residents, which live along about 600 miles of roadways in the county.

FiberLync, which is connected to a large wholesale Internet provider, is continuing to expand its operations in Orange County, promoting economic development and empowering students.

For more information on FiberLync, click here.

The second award is for the Edna Lewis Menu Trail, an initiative commemorating the 50th anniversary of the release of Edna Lewis’ first cookbook.

The release says Lewis was known as the “Grand Dame of Southern Cooking” and her cookbooks were the works to go to regarding farm-to-table dining, southern cuisine and Black history.

“The Edna Lewis Menu Trail has been an important tool to tell Mrs. Lewis’ story and explain how her life in Orange County shaped her culinary perspective and Southern Cuisine,” said Julie Perry, the assistant director of economic development and tourism for Orange County.

For more information on the menu trail, click here.

NACO’s Achievement Awards are presented annually in 18 categories to reflect the services localities provide, such as children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, administration, information technology, and civic engagement.

Several other localities in Virginia have also been recognized for various projects, including Chesterfield County, Henrico County, York County, Botetourt County, Loudoun County, and Roanoke County among others.  

For more information on the Achievement Awards, click here.