Marquette amongst finalists for All-America City Award
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.”