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NEWS
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National Civic
League Announces Finalists For |
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30 Communities Up For Nation's Most Prestigious Civic Award DENVER - The National Civic League announced today the 30 Finalist communities for the 2004 All-America City Award competition, the nation's longest running and most prestigious civic recognition program. The All-America City Award encourages and recognizes civic excellence, honoring the communities in which citizens, government, businesses and nonprofit organizations demonstrate successful resolution of critical community issues. Since 1949, more than 4,000 communities have competed and nearly 500 have been designated "All-America Cities." The Finalist communities that will compete for the 2004 All-America
City title include (listed in alphabetical order by state):
"These communities serve as models for the rest of the country," said Christopher T. Gates, president of the National Civic League. "They are tackling challenges that seem insurmountable and are producing positive and tangible results with ingenuity and collaboration." The 30 Finalists will participate in a final round of the All-America City competition in Atlanta, Georgia, June 10-12. A delegation from each Finalist community will present their innovative programs and local solutions to a 10-person jury. Their presentations will address a wide range of social and community issues, including crime, education, poverty, housing, and race relations. The 10 All-America Cities for 2004 will be announced Saturday, June 12, during a ceremony at the Marriott Marquis. The 2003 All-America Cities were (in alphabetical order): · City of Tempe, Arizona · City of New Haven, Connecticut · City of Miami Beach, Florida · City of Des Moines, Iowa · County of Marquette, Michigan · City of Laurinburg, North Carolina · City of Wilson, North Carolina · City of South Sioux City, Nebraska · City of Corpus Christi, Texas · Greater Racine Area, Wisconsin George H. Gallup, one of the award's founders, described the program as "…a Nobel prize for constructive citizenship." As such, communities that have won the All-America City Award have realized numerous benefits, including national recognition and enhanced community pride. Many All-America City Award winners also have realized significant economic impacts, including new grants, improved bond ratings, increased tourism, and greater economic activity. "Since winning the award in 1990, 71 companies have relocated here, bringing in 3,900 new jobs as of 2003. These new jobs are generating an annual payroll of more than $100 million," said Paul Anderson, Chair of Jobs Plus, in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. "The Award gave us the credibility and pride to encourage these companies to relocate." The National Civic League (NCL) is one of the leading proponents of
citizen democracy in the United States. Founded in 1894 by Theodore
Roosevelt and other government reformers, it is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
organization dedicated to building community and promoting political
reform at the local level. NCL accomplishes its mission through facilitating
community processes and conducting and publishing research on political
reform and community building. Through its All-America City Award program,
NCL also celebrates community engagement efforts across the nation.
For more information, visit www.ncl.org. |
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