It is a little bit like the Academy Awards, the drama, the acceptance speeches, the rowdy fun, you get the idea.

So, live, from the Marriott Waterside in Tampa, here are the winners of the 2009 All-America City Awards, posted as they are announced:

1. Fort Wayne, Ind.
2. Statesville, N.C.
3. Inglewood, Calif.
4. Somerville, Mass.
5. Phoenix, Ariz.
6. Wichita, Kansas
7. Albany, N.Y.
8. Kinston, N.C.
9. Caroline County, Va.
10. Richmond, Ind.

Caroline County, Virginia
Caroline’s Promise Dental Program

Caroline’s Promise is a nonprofit organization that strives to meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being of the county’s youth. One of the organization’s five pledged promises is to provide a healthy start and future for all Caroline County children, and this promise is the focus of the dental program started in 2003. Like many rural counties, Caroline County has struggled with issues brought about by the shortage of medical professionals in the county and the resulting lack of access to care. In response, the County developed an innovative rural Dental program that has received numerous national awards.  A number of things have made this program successful. One is having the dentist located in a modern and permanent surrounding and not a mobile unit, which gives assurance to the children and parents of the quality of care they are receiving.  Another is the involvement of the county school system through the school nurses and its transportation system. The success of the program in Caroline County is now looked upon as the model for future programs in the region.

Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City tonight at the conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.

Rowlett, Texas
ROCK

Seeing an influx of juvenile offenses in 2003, Rowlett Municipal Judge Belinda Loveland created Reaching Our Community’s Kids (ROCK).  ROCK is an after-school mentoring program teaching life skills to at-risk boys and girls, providing them with the training and encouragement necessary to succeed in school and stay out of the juvenile justice system, while advocating the benefits of living substance free. “Our goal each week is to provide students the tools to make healthy choices in their everyday life,” Judge Loveland said. “We are here to support them and counsel them with any problems they encounter along their journey to success.” In Rowlett, community support for ROCK stems from Rowlett Lions Club, Rotary Club, Police Department, Fire Department, School District, business leaders and neighbors all working together to make a difference in the life of a child. ROCK has a direct impact on approximately 150 of Rowlett’s boys and girls annually. But what makes this program so successful is the promise of positive ‘peer pressure’ emulating from the participants into the community as a whole.

Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City tonight at the  conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.

Tampa’s hometown delegation for the All-America City Awards being hosted at the Marriott Waterside took the stage this morning behind the Middleton High School drum line, providing a blast of energy to an already interesting but lower-key set of community presentations. That’s Mayor Pam Iorio at the center, in a blue suit, after she spent time posing for pictures with former Mayor Sandy Freedman, who led Tampa in 1990 when it was last given the AAC designation.

The group highlighted three civic projects: Improvements in East Tampa, the new 40th Street Bridge and road widening, and a holiday celebration in Sulphur Springs.

Thirty communities are vying for 10 slots to be designated an All-America City. The winners will be announced tomorrow night. CL is staffing today and tomorrow’s presentations, and you can follow on Twitter, either my tweets (@poho) or by following the hashtag #aac on our All-America Tweet Feed.

The National Civic League ’s 2009 All-America City Awards conference starts today in Tampa, and a common theme for cities is revitalizing downtowns. Here is Erie, Penn.’s effort along those lines:

Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie’s Downtown Revitalization Masterplan

Just as in many other urban communities in the latter half of the 20th century, residents began moving outside the city limits and into the suburbs.  Part of the city’s present day vision is to bring those families and young professionals back downtown by offering new and attractive urban living options. Downtown Erie’s 70-block core has been broken up into phases with different projects designed to fit each area.  Some of the projects include streetscaping, façade renovations, and lighting and park improvements.  In several other areas, the goal is to provide different levels of housing including market rate housing, low to moderate income housing, and some luxury housing, as well as office space and opportunity for commercial and retail development.  The plan calls for approximately $56 million in real estate development, representing 40,000 square feet of commercial development, 143 residential units, parks and street improvements.  Presently the Erie Redevelopment Authority and various development partners have approximately $6 million of mixed-use development under construction and another $12 million in projects are planned for construction in the next 6 to 24 months.

Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City at the June 16-19 conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.

Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman is the president of the National Civic League this year and a big proponent of these kinds of partnership projects. During her tenure, in 1990, Tampa was named an All-America City. Creative Loafing CEO Ben Eason is also involved, as a member of the Host Committee.

The National Civic League ’s 2009 All-America City Awards conference starts today in Tampa. We’re highlighting one nominated project from each of the 30 competing communities (10 will be named AAC’s). Here is Toledo, Ore.:

Toledo, Oregon
Toledo Skatepark

In 2005, the City built a state-of-the-art skatepark for the youth of Toledo.  Youngsters had lobbied city council for a park, prompting a city councilor to apply to Oregon State Parks for funding.   It was built on a lot donated by the city, with an adjacent lot donated by a landowner.  The Siletz Tribe also contributed funds to the project.  The new facility is located next to an area the city had already developed as a recreational area, with a city park, swimming pool and library nearby.  The presence of the skate park has increased use of the adjacent facilities, and it provides a space for youth to gather and recreate.  Volunteers help monitor the park, and youth help maintain it. An art project was organized to add interest to the area, and an adjacent business allowed its outside wall to be used for a mural.  A volunteer art director helped Toledo elementary students design and complete the mural using donated materials.  Landscaping design was donated and volunteers installed the landscaping.  The park has earned notice from around the region, and is a destination for skateboarders.

A fundraising check at Toledo’s Skatepark as it raised money to compete for All-America City.

Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City at the June 16-19 conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.

Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman is the president of the National Civic League this year and a big proponent of these kinds of partnership projects. During her tenure, in 1990, Tampa was named an All-America City. Creative Loafing CEO Ben Eason is also involved, as a member of the Host Committee.

Photo: The Daily Record

The National Civic League ’s 2009 All-America City Awards conference starts today in Tampa. We’re highlighting one nominated project from each of the 30 competing cities (10 will be named AAC’s). Here is Wooster, Ohio:

Wooster, Ohio
Knights Field Park

A successful collaboration between government, community organizations, residents, and developers led to the recent transformation of Wooster’s Knights Field Park from a “low use” neighborhood park to one that now attracts children and families from all parts of the city and county. In 2005, the Kiwanis club asked the city’s parks manager for an opportunity to build a new playground at Knights Field. Funding was obtained through the state’s community development block grant program, a design firm was retained, and  neighborhood schoolchildren were employed as “design consultants” to assist in the design of the playground. With the Kiwanians providing the labor and city park staff acting as project managers, the playground was built over a two-day period. In addition, a neighborhood improvement association created a butterfly garden, and, in 2007, Knights Field pool was converted to a “sprayground.” The third step in the revitalization of the park was the opening of Kiddie City, a kid-sized community meant for the use of young children operating tricycles, bicycles, big wheels and small electric vehicles. As a consequence of this revitalization effort, park officials have seen a dramatic increase in the usage of Knights Field Park, and the City of Wooster received the 2008 Award of Excellence from the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association.

Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City at the June 16-19 conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.

Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman is the president of the National Civic League this year and a big proponent of these kinds of partnership projects. During her tenure, in 1990, Tampa was named an All-America City. Creative Loafing CEO Ben Eason is also involved, as a member of the Host Committee.

The National Civic League ’s 2009 All-America City Awards gets in full swing tomorrow morning in Tampa. We’re highlighting one nominated project from each of the 30 competing cities (10 will be named AAC’s). Here is Cpl. Max Klinger’s favorite city, Toledo, Ohio:

Toledo, Ohio
Toledo GROWs – Toledo Botanical Garden

Food needs are rising for many people in the Toledo community due to economic conditions. In an effort to meet this need and make Toledo a more livable community, area leaders and organizations have been exploring how the use of growing systems in urban settings can meet rising local food needs. Experimental efforts have already been underway in the region for the past two years through the production of various community gardens. Toledo GROWs is the community gardening outreach program of Toledo Botanical Garden. Toledo GROWs offers organizational resources and technical assistance to support the development of sustainable garden projects that serve people of diverse ages and abilities. Toledo GROWs has collaborated with dozens of Toledo organizations to create over sixty community gardens throughout the city.  In 2008, over two thousand citizens participated in community gardens.  These participants received free seeds and free plants as well as educational opportunities. The greenhouses also provide employment to youth in their neighborhoods while eliminating hunger, transforming blighted lots and strengthening communities.

Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City at the June 16-19 conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.

Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman is the president of the National Civic League this year and a big proponent of these kinds of partnership projects. During her tenure, in 1990, Tampa was named an All-America City. Creative Loafing CEO Ben Eason is also involved, as a member of the Host Committee.

Photo: City of Somerville/Jonas A. Kahn

The National Civic League ’s 2009 All-America City Awards gets in full swing tomorrow morning in Tampa. We’re highlighting one nominated project from each of the 30 competing cities (10 will be named AAC’s). Here is Somerville, Mass., a Boston suburb:

Somerville, Massachusetts
Improved Communication

Over the past several years, the City of Somerville has increased its focus on creating a transparent, inclusive form of municipal government for all community members and through a variety of media, to create a more inclusive and responsive community. This idea includes the creation of a government management model that not only tracks administrative trends and constituent requests to increase accountability, but also provides the City’s residents with the opportunity to respond to and provide feedback on City initiatives and the annual budget process, to create an inclusive, transparent form of government. To that end, in 2004, Somerville adopted the CitiStat model of management, dubbed “SomerStat,” which institutes a series of regular forums with all City departments and key decision-makers to identify problems, assess success of service delivery and track constituent concerns, determine opportunities for improvement and, along with the City’s 311 Customer Service Center, provide data on departments’ service demand and delivery, as partially determined by residents. Somerville’s goal is to build and sustain a continuous, positive relationship and ongoing conversation between City government and community members, and all of these tools have increasingly made that goal a reality.

Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City at the June 16-19 conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.

Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman is the president of the National Civic League this year and a big proponent of these kinds of partnership projects. During her tenure, in 1990, Tampa was named an All-America City. Creative Loafing CEO Ben Eason is also involved, as a member of the Host Committee.