HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-05-2011 2011 F. Jay Nimtz Public Service Award Winner O4SpU T$,g
F �
'Z
PFA(t: y
r t
<-
186;
Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
Monday,December 5,2011
4:00 PM
Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications&Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
2011 F. Jay Nimtz Public Service Award Winner
The F. Jay Nimtz Exemplary Public Service Award was presented to Jeff Gibney,
Executive Director of South Bend's Dept. of Community and Economic Development, at the
annual Award Ceremony and Reception, today, at the Charles Martin Youth Center.
This award was established to honor the late F. Jay Nimtz, a former U.S. Congressman,
long-time President of the South Bend Redevelopment Commission, attorney, and community
preservationist. F. Jay set the standard for community advocacy and commitment to building a
better South Bend. Created in 1989,the award is given by the City of South Bend and South
Bend Heritage Foundation to an individual in the community who has shown exemplary public
service through long and varied volunteer activities.
Jeffrey V. Gibney, this year's honoree, is recognized for his outstanding and tireless
commitment to stabilizing, enhancing, and empowering South Bend neighborhoods and the
Greater South Bend area. Through his work, 30 years at South Bend Heritage Foundation, and
since 2007, as South Bend's Director of Community and Economic Development, Jeff has
brought new ideas, new investment, and new energy to help grow and develop South Bend as a
prime regional center.
"Today, the F. Jay Nimtz award has truly come full circle" said Mayor Steve
Luecke. Jeff was the guiding force behind the establishment of the original Exemplary Public
Service Award when it was first presented to F. Jay Nimtz in 1989 and then named for Nimtz.
This award, today,reflects not only Jeff s years of commitment to South Bend, but also the
personal and professional relationship that he had with the late F. Jay Nimtz. I can't think of
anyone more influential in transforming neighborhoods and the face of South Bend,Jeff is a true
"urban pioneer", stated Mayor Luecke
Upon accepting the award, Jeff stated, "It's better to give than to receive! Seriously, as
we think and remember the people who have helped build this city, F. Jay Nimtz was just
incredible and someone from whom I learned so much. More importantly,the real key to our
success is all about inclusiveness and people working together. This is something that was
instilled in me as we worked with Pablo Eisenberg(his wife is actually from South Bend) and
the Center for Community Change. I believe we can change and improve outcomes by
empowering individuals at all levels and analyzing issues from the perspective of the city's
poorest citizens as well as business and community leaders and keeping everyone's interest in
mind."
Others attending the 2011 F. Jay Nimtz Award Ceremony include E. Jack Reed, last
year's recipient and Gladys Muhammad of South Bend Heritage Foundation, who also paid
tribute to Gibney.
Background: During Jeff Gibney's tenure with the city of South Bend, his department
has been instrumental in the design and implementation of Ignition Park, part of the state of
Indiana's first dual-site technology park and the city's partnership with the development of
Innovation Park at Notre Dame. In addition, he has also overseen the development of Eddy
Street Commons, the region's largest mixed use development in decades, revitalization of the
Northeast Neighborhood which garnered the National League of Cities Gold Award for
Municipal Excellence, last year, and was part of the winning combination, along with the
development of the Civil Rights Heritage Center that earned All America City designation, this
year. Other projects include the Kroc Center and the Notre Dame Center for Latino Studies at
Hansel Center on the westside, $3m in improvements north of downtown, in partnership with
Memorial Hospital,renovation of the 1st Source Center and the new Hilton Hotel, relocation of
WNIT into the heart of downtown, and renovation of American Trust Place along with several
new businesses, stores, and restaurants have all occurred under Gibney's tenure. While serving
as Executive Director of South Bend Heritage Foundation,Jeff led numerous projects to revive
and enhance the community including a renaissance of"the block" which now includes West
Washington Homes, housing on the south side (South East Homes), and revitalization of the
northeast side through the development efforts of the NNRO (Northeast Neighborhood
Revitalization Organization) and other partners.
Gibney graduated from Indiana University South Bend with a B.A. and was awarded an
Honorary PhD in Humanities from IU South Bend for his work in the community. He has served
on numerous local,regional, and state boards and commissions including Key Bank, 1st Source
Bank, Chair of the Indiana Arts Commission, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
-30-