NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: June 26, 2006
Contact: Gary Chandler
Phone: 303.571.4343
Fax: 303.571.4404
Email: gchandler@ncl.org

Applications For All-America
City Award Due March 9th
Finalists Will Be Announced April 14th

DENVER – Cities and communities interested in applying for the All-America City Award have six more weeks to put their hats in the ring for the prestigious community award.

As it has since 1949, the 2006 All-America City Award will recognize communities that are overcoming their challenges through innovative leadership and collaborative problem solving. The All-America-City Award, a program of the National Civic League, is the oldest and most prestigious community recognition program in the country. The Award recognizes exceptional community problem-solving and is earned by communities that work cooperatively to address and overcome challenges.

“I am so pleased and honored that the Canoga Park Community received the All-America City Award in 2005 for the transformation that has taken place in the neighborhood,” said Councilman Dennis P. Zine, Los Angeles District three. “The award clearly demonstrates that when a diverse community unites and works together, anything is possible—even a National Award for an aging community with hard working people.”

For the past 56 years, the All-America City Award has encouraged, and recognized, civic excellence. It honors communities of all sizes – cities, towns, counties, neighborhoods and regions – in which citizens, government, businesses and volunteer organizations work together to address critical local issues. Communities that address their challenges in innovative and collaborative ways can become an All-America City.

“The All-America City Award has been described as a Nobel prize for constructive citizenship,” said Christopher T. Gates, President of the National Civic League.

“That’s how George H. Gallup, the famous pollster and one of the Award’s founders, described the program more than 50 years ago. That description holds true today.”

The benefits realized by All-America City Award winners and finalists include heightened national attention, civic pride, and a proven economic impact. The rigorous application process itself serves as a valuable civic self-assessment and can make communities stronger, Gates said.

“I am very proud that the Pompano Beach community earned the All-America City designation in 2005,” said Mayor John C. Rayson. “This is a community that takes its challenges seriously. We came together to create viable solutions making Pompano Beach one of the best cities in the United States. We’re proud to serve as a role model to help other cites meet their challenges.”

Since 1949, more than 500 communities have earned this prestigious award. The National Civic League is now accepting applications for the 2006 Award. Cities, towns, neighborhoods, counties, and regions can apply. Applications are due March 9, 2006. The National Civic League will announce the 30 finalists on April 14, 2006. All finalists advance to the 57 th annual All-America City Awards competition in Anaheim, June 9-12. A national panel of judges from all sectors of society will score all 30 presentations and select 10 winners based on the quality of the collaborative projects each community presents.

For more information, or to receive an application for the 2006 All-America City Award, contact Gary Chandler at the National Civic League. Call 303-571-4343, or write to aleksh@ncl.org.

Applications and information are available at www.ncl.org/aac. The 2006 All-America City Award program is sponsored in part by Marriott International and the Marriott Anaheim.

The National Civic League (NCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to building community and promoting democracy at the local level. NCL facilitates community processes and conducts and publishes research on political reform and community building.

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2006 All-America City Award

Criteria

Participation of the public, private and nonprofit sectors and key constituencies to the maximum extent possible;

  • Recognition and involvement of diverse segments and perspectives (ethnic, racial, socio-economic, age, etc.) in community decision-making;
  • Creative use and leveraging of community resources;
  • Significant and specific community achievements;
  • Projects that address the community’s most important needs;
  • Cooperation across jurisdictional boundaries;
  • Clear demonstration of project results and impacts (dollars raised or lives impacted);
  • Projects which have impacted the community significantly within the last three years, and have potential to continue improving the quality of life; and
  • At least one project should document ways in which the lives of children and youth have been tangibly improved.