NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: June 14, 2003
Contact: Gary Chandler
Phone: 303.571.4343
Fax: 303.571.4404
Email: gchandler@ncl.org

National Civic League Announces
All-America City Award Winners

10 communities receive nation's most prestigious civic recognition award

Washington, D.C. - June 14, 2003 - This evening the celebration begins for the ten communities that were designated as All-America Cities by the National Civic League during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The All-America City Award, a 54-year-old program of the National Civic League recognizing civic excellence, annually honors 10 communities that best exemplify the spirit of grassroots citizen involvement and cross-sector collaborative problem solving. Since the program began in 1949, more than 4,000 communities (neighborhoods, towns, cities, counties, and regions) have competed and nearly 500 communities have been named All-America Cities.

The ten All-America City award recipients for 2003 are (in alphabetical order):

Tempe, Arizona
New Haven, Connecticut
Miami Beach, Florida
Des Moines, Iowa
Marquette County, Michigan
Laurinburg, North Carolina
Wilson, North Carolina
South Sioux City, Nebraska
Corpus Christi, Texas
Greater Racine Area, Wisconsin

Delegations comprised of government officials, neighborhood activists, business leaders and volunteers from each of the 30 AAC Finalist communities traveled to Washington, D.C. to compete in hearings before the 10-member All-America City Jury. Following extraordinary presentations from each community, the 10 All-America Cities were announced this evening at an awards ceremony at the Hilton Washington & Towers Hotel.

"These All-America Cities symbolize the best of our nation - the ability of citizens, government, businesses and nonprofit organizations to come together, effectively address their local issues, and produce tangible results," said Christopher T. Gates, president of the National Civic League. "The accomplishments of these 10 All-America Cities serve as an inspiration to communities across the United States that are facing similar challenges."

This year's AAC Finalists developed innovative programs and local solutions addressing current national issues including crime, education, poverty, cultural diversity, and the environment. The complete list of 2003 All-America City Finalists included:

Tempe, Arizona Montevideo, Minnesota
New Haven, Connecticut Red Wing, Minnesota
Stamford, Connecticut Laurinburg, North Carolina
Deerfield Beach, Florida Thomasville, North Carolina
Miami Beach, Florida Wilson, North Carolina
Palm Bay, Florida Ravenna, Nebraska
Pembroke Pines, Florida South Sioux City, Nebraska
Pompano Beach, Florida Springfield, Ohio
Walton County, Florida Fossil, Oregon
Des Moines, Iowa Chester, South Carolina
Evansville, Indiana Corpus Christi, Texas
Parsons, Kansas Grand Prairie, Texas
Gaithersburg, Maryland Killeen, Texas
Grand Rapids, Michigan Greater Racine Area, Wisconsin
Marquette County, Michigan Philippi, West Virginia

For more information, digital photos and supporting materials please visit the National Civic League website at www.ncl.org.

Sponsors of the 2003 All-America City Awards include:

· Fannie Mae Foundation
· Hilton Washington & Towers
· International City/County Management Association - Retirement Corporation

The National Civic League is a 109-year-old non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to strengthening citizen democracy by transforming democratic institutions. NCL accomplishes its mission through technical assistance, training, publishing, research, and the All-America City Award. The National Civic League is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and has an office in Washington, D.C.
For more information, call 303-571-4343 or visit www.ncl.org.