The City of Marquette is now amongst the list of 25 finalists for the All-America City Award, the country’s most prestigious honor for outstanding, community-based civic accomplishments.

This year’s set of awards have a special focus on successful efforts to address the underlying conditions that affect the health of communities. As part of the National Civic League’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of the U.S. Healthy Communities movement, the All-America City Award will spotlight programs that address issues such as obesity, walkable cities, biking, fitness, healthy eating and disease prevention.

Communities vying for All-Americas City status fill out applications listing three examples of successful community change and describing their capacities for civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation. Then they present to a jury of civic experts who select the annual award winners. The 2014 All-America Cities will be announced June 15 at an awards celebration. More than 600 communities have received the award since its beginning in 1949.

The 2014 list of 25 finalists includes:

Montgomery, Alabama

San Pablo, California

Whittier, California

Brush, Colorado

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Tarpon Springs, Florida

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Marshalltown, Iowa

Columbus, Indiana

Chelsea, Massachusetts

Dedham, Massachusetts

Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Somerville, Massachusetts

Marquette, Michigan

Kenmore, New York

Canton, New York

Independence, Oregon

Providence, Rhode Island

Knoxville, Tennessee

Brownsville, Texas

Marshall, Texas

Hampton, Virginia

Portsmouth, Virginia

Yakima, Washington

Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

“We look forward to hosting these community innovators when they come to Denver to participate in the All-America City Awards in June,” said National Civic League Board Chair Mayor Michael B. Hancock of Denver. “All-America city finalists are at the forefront of a nationwide movement to find inventive, community-based solutions to the issues that face our cities. From preparing our kids to compete and succeed in the 21st century to promoting livable neighborhood revitalization, new ideas often start in one community and later become best practices for others.”