NLC announces Awards for Municipal Excellence finalists
The Washington-based National League of Cities (NLC) has chosen 45 city programs from across the country as finalists for the 2010 Awards for Municipal Excellence. The awards are given to city programs that improve the quality of life in their communities.
NLC received nominations from municipalities in 40 states. The finalists’ programs included public-private partnerships, citizen and community collaborations, municipal resource management initiatives, and government policies. The projects were implemented with tangible results and/or the ability to replicate the project in other cities. “We are pleased that such a diverse group of city programs have been chosen as finalists for our Awards for Municipal Excellence,” said NLC Executive Director Donald Borut in a statement. “This shows that even at a time when so many cities are struggling financially, the most creative and innovative solutions are developing at the local level.”
Finalist communities, organized by categories based on population, include:
Populations less than 50,000: Brunswick, Ohio; Clemson, S.C.; Conway, Ariz.; Coral Gables, Fla.; Greencastle, Ind.; Griffin, Ga.; Hercules, Calif.; Hopkins, Minn.; Kingsport, Tenn.; La Quinta, Calif.; Prescott Valley, Ariz.; Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Stuart, Fla.; Vandalia, Ohio; and Westminster, Colo.
Populations of 50,001 – 150,000: Antioch, Calif.; Bryan, Texas; Centennial, Colo.; Cerritos, Calif.; Independence, Mo.; North Charleston, S.C.; North Miami, Fla.; Pembroke Pines, Fla.; Provo, Utah; Santa Fe, N.M.; Schaumburg, Ill. (2 programs); South Bend, Ind.; Sunnyvale, Calif.; Thousand Oaks, Calif.; and Wellington, Fla.
Populations of 150,001 – 500,000: Aurora, Colo.; Irvine, Calif.; Mesa, Ariz.; Minneapolis; Newport News, Va.; Riverside, Calif.; Salt Lake City; St. Petersburg, Fla.
Populations of more than 500,000: Dallas, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia and Phoenix
Two finalists in each population category will be selected as winners, which will be announced during NLC’s Congress of Cities and Exposition, scheduled to be held in Denver on Nov. 30 – Dec. 4. Read more information about the Awards for Municipal Excellence.