HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-31-09 South Bend named 2009 All-America City finalist
Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
March 31, 2009
4:00 p.m.
South Bend named 2009 All-America City finalist
Contact:
Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
or National Civic League, Denver, Mike McGrath, mikem@ncl.org (303) 571-4343
South Bend is one of 32 finalists, including three Indiana cities, in the National Civic
th
League’s 60 annual All-America City competition for outstanding civic
accomplishment, considered “a civic ‘Oscar’ for communities of all sizes.”
The 10 winning cities will be announced at the All-America City Awards Competition
June 17-19 in Tampa, Fla.
South Bend was selected as an All-America City in 1967. This year’s entry by the City of
South Bend was the first in at least 12 years.
“This is a very exciting time to be living in South Bend, not simply because of this
national recognition but because of the great partnerships in this community – public and
private, commercial and residential, university and nonprofit – that demonstrate the
collaboration, civic engagement and innovation of the All-America City award,” said
Mayor Stephen J. Luecke. “As our nation struggles to restart the economy, we believe
South Bend can be a place that ignites the new economy through creativity and discovery
in our community, including such efforts as MIND, Innovation Park and Ignition Park.”
(MIND, the Midwest Institute for Nanoelectronics Discovery, was established one year
ago at the University of Notre Dame by a consortium of the world’s leading computer
chip makers as a national center for research into the next generation of technology.
Innovation Park at Notre Dame and Ignition Park in the heart of the city represent
Indiana’s first dual-site state-certified technology park.)
An All-America City has a proven capacity for community-based problem solving,
grassroots civic engagement and cooperation between sectors (public, private and
nonprofit). To become a finalist, each participant completed an application documenting
three community projects that address local challenges such as job creation/economic
development, environmental sustainability, neighborhood revitalization and disaster
recovery.
“The All-America City Award is like a civic ‘Oscar’ for communities of all sizes,” said
National Civic League President Gloria Rubio-Cortés. “It’s unique because it recognizes
the efforts of entire communities. All-America Cities demonstrate inclusiveness,
collaboration, civic engagement, and innovation.”
Listed alphabetically by state are the 2009 finalists:
Phoenix, Arizona Windsor Heights, Iowa Toledo, Ohio
Fort Smith, Arkansas Wichita, Kansas Wooster, Ohio
Inglewood, California Pocomoke City, Maryland Toledo, Oregon
Rancho Cordova, California Rockville, Maryland Erie, Pennsylvania
Windsor, Colorado Salisbury, Maryland Providence, Rhode Island
Tampa, Florida Somerville, Massachusetts Chattanooga, Tennessee
Bensenville, Illinois Belton, Missouri Rowlett, Texas
Carbondale, Illinois Albany, New York Caroline County, Virginia
Fort Wayne, Indiana Benson, North Carolina
Richmond, Indiana Kinston, North Carolina
South Bend, Indiana
Clinton, North Carolina
Des Moines, Iowa Statesville, North Carolina
“This year is the 60th Anniversary of the All-America City Awards. We are inviting all
former winners (more than 500 of them) to come to the event in Tampa to be recognized,
and to share their lessons learned and community stories with their peers,” noted Rubio-
Cortés.
During the three-day competition, a delegation from each community will present its
challenges and solutions to a jury of national experts from across the United States. At
least one community project must focus on the needs of young people.
South Bend’s three projects highlighted the transformation of the Northeast
Neighborhood culminating in Eddy Street Commons, various City efforts for increased
efficiency in the wake of property tax caps, and the We Can! initiative to address
childhood obesity.
The All-America City Award is an honor achieved by more than 500 neighborhoods,
villages, towns, cities, counties, and regions across the country. Some have won the
award multiple times.
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the National Civic League strengthens democracy
by increasing the capacity of our nation’s people to fully participate in and build healthy
and prosperous communities across America. Founded in 1894 by Theodore Roosevelt
and other government reformers, NCL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that
accomplishes its mission through training, technical assistance, publishing, facilitating
community-wide strategic planning and awards programs. For more information on NCL
and its programs, visit www.ncl.org
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