Three Loudoun County programs have been recognized for excellence and innovation by the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo). The county’s efforts to combat digital financial crimes with the Financial and Cybercrime Unit, the support of local agriculture and rural economy through the Loudoun Farm Tour and a digital photography program for teens have received 2025 Achievement Awards from VACo.
Financial and Cybercrime Unit – Justice to Victims
To respond to the increase in criminal schemes that use digital assets such as cryptocurrency, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office expanded its Financial Crimes Unit to create the Financial and Cybercrime Unit with a specific mission to address digital financial crime. Since its formation, the Financial and Cybercrime Unit has led multiple complex investigations and recovered substantial amounts of stolen funds. In one case, the unit successfully recovered more than $1.4 million for a resident who was victimized by a complex investment scam. The unit uses sophisticated analytical tools to follow blockchain transactions and works closely with federal and international partners. In addition to investigations, the unit also works to increase public awareness about cybercrime through presentations to residents and financial institutions.
Loudoun Farm Tour
One of Loudoun County’s most popular events is the Loudoun Farm Tour, which takes place twice a year—during the planting season in the spring and harvest season in the fall. Organized by the Department of Economic Development, the Loudoun Farm Tour celebrates the county’s agricultural heritage and thriving rural economy. The tour features 35 to 40 working farms each season, showcasing the diversity of the agribusiness community, from traditional livestock operations to those that grow specialty crops such as tea, garlic or alpacas. The county’s strategic support includes farmer recruitment and onboarding, educational webinars, map and brand development and a robust marketing campaign. Participating farms report significant visitor counts and revenue increasing 50% to 100% during a tour weekend. Total estimated attendance reaches between 4,000 and 6,000 people per tour.
Teen Photographers
The Loudoun County Public Library (LCPL) created the Teen Photographers program to make photography accessible to teenagers by utilizing smartphone cameras to encourage an appreciation of digital photography. Each month, LCPL staff members combine photographic instruction with opportunities for hands-on experience through library resources to help teens develop the skills to use everyday items to replicate professional-grade photography techniques. The participants experience the full range of photography—from capturing an image with their smartphone to post production finishing touches. They also learn to use industry-standard software such as Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. In addition to encouraging appreciation for photography, design and art history, the program also introduces teens to a variety of related careers such as photo styling and image editing.
More Information
The Loudoun County programs were among 57 winners of the 2025 Achievement Awards, which were chosen from 155 submissions. More information about the awards program is available at vaco.org.
The Loudoun County government has a number of award-winning programs and services. Find out more at loudoun.gov/awards.
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