All-America City prize is based on area projects
03/16/2008
Akron is the only Ohio city among 17 finalists vying for 10 All-America City awards.
The National Civic League runs the national competition, judging communities on three projects they have devised to address challenges.
Akron last won the award in 1995. The only other time it was named an All-America City was in 1981.
The city submitted these three projects for consideration this year:
''The teamwork demonstrated time and time again by the people in our city puts Akron in a strong, competitive position for this honor,'' Mayor Don Plusquellic said. ''This award, as it was twice before, would be for the people of Akron and would show all of us how we stack up against other towns across America.''
National Civic League President Gloria Rubio-Cortes called the award the equivalent of a community Oscar.
''It recognizes the efforts of entire communities and exemplifies extensive civic engagement,'' she said.
The next step is for each community to send a delegation to Tampa, Fla., for a three-day event starting June 4 to present their programs to a jury of national experts.
The winners will be announced June 6.
Other finalists are Goodyear and Marana, both in Arizona; Cerritos, Calif.; Aurora, Col.; New Haven, Conn.; Kissimmee-Osceola County and Sarasota County, both in Florida; Somerville, Mass.; Gladstone, Mo.; the St. Louis region, Missouri-Illinois; Lenoir and Reidsville, both in North Carolina; Upper Dublin Township, Pa.; Abbeville County, S.C.; Selma, Texas; and Caroline County, Va.
Beacon Journal staff report
