An All-America city?

Designation brings community pride that will endure

Written by Beth Anne Piehl
The Jackson Citizen Patriot, Jackson, MI
June 17, 2001
Provided by Burrelle's Information Services

Jackson County can look forward to boosted community pride and more partnerships to improve the area if it's named an All-America City next weekend.

That's the word from a handful of communities large and small around the nation that have won the honor in recent years.

"It's been a few years and the excitement has died down a little bit, but what's kept it alive and kept the momentum going are the partnerships we've formed," said Danny Hearn, president of the chamber of commerce in Statesville, N.C., a town of 23,000 which won in 1997.

It's the same story from Lancaster, Pa., a city of 56,000 that earned the designation in 2000.

"Quite honestly, win or lose it sounds cliché, I know - but it is totally worth it from a community-pride standpoint," said Matt Parido, Lancaster's director of housing and neighborhood development.

Jackson County leaders and promoters hope they'll be sharing success stories of their own.

A delegation of 47 area residents representing the county's 158,000 population will travel to Atlanta, Ga., Thursday through Sunday to compete for one of 10 All-America City designations.

Thirty finalists were named earlier in the spring from 93 applicants nationwide.

The National Civic League sponsors the annual competition that spurs communities of all sizes to promote their accomplishments, unique projects and inventive ideas for meeting goals while fostering partnerships that work to resolve challenges.

Many Jacksonians, however, already have an idea of what to expect if the county wins.

In 1986, a contingent of about 30 locals brought home the All-America City title after a competition in Cincinnati.

News reports in the year following were mixed as to what benefit the status had on Jackson, which at the time was struggling to get beyond rough economic times worsened by plant and business closings.

"It was so very, very different from now," said Zoe Wilcox, a member of the All-America City committee in 1986 and now director of business operations analysis with Consumers Energy.

Unemployment rates were as high as 26 percent, locals were exhausting jobless benefits, and many were leaving town after losing hope in the city with its bleak outlook.

"It created an atmosphere of real hopelessness," Wilcox said. "So, one of the benefits of the All-America City award was that the community began to see itself as something other than a negative economic statistic.

"They began to see those people who were committed to providing leadership were going to continue to step up to the plate."

Community pride was bolstered by a weeklong celebration, including a well-attended parade where residents enjoyed 3,000 free soft drinks and hot dogs.

The Jackson delegates collected the city's award at a Washington D.C., ceremony.

"it was very positive, especially back in that time when Jackson really needed a shot in the arm," said Steve Osmond, music director of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra. "It was very positive from a self-perception point of view"

"(And) in addition to generating enthusiasm, it also developed some forward momentum and people thinking there were not just a lot of positive things that were here but that could be here."

Special stamp-cancellations were used by the post office, signs and banners went up around town

Then-Gov. James Blanchard also joined the celebrations.

Service clubs asked the committee to show the videotape presentation made to the Cincinnati judges and slowly, the community's view of itself was starting to improve, Wilcox said.

Bob Carlton, former president of the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce, which under current president Susan Milhoan is spearheading this year's effort, said some of the initiatives outlined as goals by the '86 contingent are still in place today.

Carlton said as one of three projects required for the application, the "Jackson County 1990" focus included goals that are now in place today: the small business development "incubator;" cleanup of the Grand River; intergovernmental cooperation; community wellness initiatives; and a community calendar of events, for example.

"It is important to recognize the benefit that comes from receiving national recognition and building internal community esteem as a result of it," Carlton said.

While the advantages of All-America City designation may not be tangible, past winners here and elsewhere say they're enduring nonetheless.

Lancaster showcased its delegation as the grand marshals in the annual Loyalty Day Parade there, by inviting them to schools and civic groups to promote city improvement projects, plus the area's three newspapers carry the All-America City logo on their front pages.

"It's really been cool," Parido said.

The city of Statesville is still realizing benefits from projects it completed in time for the 1997 competition, after partnering with the chamber of commerce and NAACP: an open-door medical clinic for the homeless. an after school tutoring program for minority youth and saving of an old railroad depot from demolition with $350,000 in community donations.

"Those three (groups) were not real close before the award and we have maintained those partnerships and fed off the success of the award," Hearn, of the chamber there, said.

Brenda Redmond, a lifelong Statesville resident and 35-year employee of the Statesville Record & Landmark newspaper, said the All-America City status is still mentioned by residents.

"There was just a lot of pride with the citizens here," Redmond said. "After it was all over, there's really not been any major events. But sometimes, people will bring it up. They'll say, 'We're an All-America City, we've got to be better.'"

'In Clinton, Mo., situated halfway between Kansas City and Springfield, being named an All-America City in 2000 has brought recognition to the town of 9,400.

"Winning the All-America City Award will open doors for grant opportunities, for future revitalization and maintenance of our community," said Marsha Dark, project manager for Clinton Main Street Inc.

A regional winner, the "Tri-Cities of Tennessee/Virginia," sent a delegation of 77 when it became the first such combination to win an All-America City designation in 1999.

The area encompasses 14 counties and a population of 650,000 in neighboring Tennessee and Virginia communities that were once rivals, according to Liesa Jenkins of the non-profit, partnership building organization Kingsport Tomorrow in Kingsport, Tenn., one of the involved cities.

Since winning, the biggest change has been in people's mindsets, Jenkins said.

"My number one piece of advice would be this: Making it into the top 30 is really something to be proud of. It means you're doing the right things. You're looking at yourself and you're asking the right things," Jenkins said.

"Use the opportunity to learn everything you can from the communities that are there. It helped us look at ourselves more objectively.

"And if you win, that's just icing on the cake."