For the past 75 years, the National Civic League’s All-America City Award judges have selected and celebrated cities that the organization says offer “the finest examples of American civic innovation.”
Cities from all across the United States apply for the recognition and, this year, Guilford County’s very own City of High Point is a finalist for the coveted award. It’s among the Top 20 communities now that hundreds of other contenders have been eliminated.
Finalists were selected after a competitive review process based on the following criteria: “shared vision, civic engagement, inclusiveness and equity, collaboration, [and] innovation and impact.”
In recent years, High Point has worked very hard to completely transform the city using everything from major downtown renovation, sprucing up the parks and greenways, and increasing sports and other event offerings in an attempt to make High Point a true destination city for new residents, tourists and businesses.
The city has also had a long run of successful economic recruitment over the last two decades.
Each applicant sent in submissions discussing the strengths of their civic capital and provided examples of community-driven efforts that have transformed the community.
The finalist cities, representing 11 states, range in size from 3,000 residents to over 700,000.
These are the 20 finalists:.
Boulder, CO
Danville, VA
Edinburg, TX
Henderson, KY
High Point, NC
Jacksonville, NC
La Marque, TX
Lakewood, CO
Lexington, KY
Monroe County, IN
Monrovia, CA
New Orleans, LA
Newport News, VA
Oakland, CA
Punta Gorda, FL
Roanoke, VA
Saginaw, TX
Seattle, WA
Watkinsville, GA
Wilton Manors, FL
The 75th annual All-America City Award competition will be held in Denver Colorado from Friday, June 7 to Sunday June 9. The finalists will assemble teams of residents, nonprofit representatives, businesses and government leaders, young people and others to present their cities’ advancements. The event is also meant to be something of an educational event since all these teams from innovative cities and towns will connect and share insights.
Much of the event will be live-streamed on Facebook.
Exactly what is the criteria for this designation? I see Seattle, Oakland, New Orleans, among others. To use an old cliche: “you must be kidding”. I can make an accurate guess as to who the “judges” are. Fill in your own.
Hahaha that’s such a great joke!! My family and I lived in High Point until we moved 2 years ago.
High Point is a crime ridden city with multiple shootings, home break-ins, drug dealers running rampant, prostitution and any other crimes a person could think of!
I just thank God every day that we don’t live in High Point anymore!!
Where did you move to?