The National Civic League’s 2016 All-America City Awards

Agenda Who is NCL and what is AAC? Why apply? The benefits of AAC Completing the Application Keys to Success Additional Support Materials Questions

National Civic League The National Civic League (NCL) is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to strengthen democracy by increasing the capacity of our nation’s people to fully participate in and build healthy and prosperous communities across America. Government and Governance Civic Engagement Civic Recognition Awards

The 2016 All-America City Award Recognizing Community Achievement for 67 Years (1949 – 2016) “Ensuring All Children Are Healthy and Supported to Succeed in School and Life”

Why Apply? The Benefits of Being an All-America City

Economic Benefits Cynthia Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager of Dubuque, Iowa, a 2007, 2012 & 2013 All-America City, says that the All- America City Award “helped us land a BIG project in the midst of major economic recession in 2009/2010. IBM located their first data center in years in downtown Dubuque and created 1300 new jobs with an annual payroll of 58 million! We feel truly blessed.” Tourism Grants New Business New Residents

Community Pride The Award reinvigorates a community's sense of civic pride. People are proud to live in an All-America City and they work hard to live up to the name.

Community Collaboration The application process itself presents a unique opportunity for communities to identify their assets, challenges, and foster new community partnerships that last for years beyond the AAC event. Brownsville, TX 2014 AAC collaborators

Additional Benefits National opportunity to tell your community’s story! You become part of a national exchange network to share best practices before, during, and after the AAC event in Denver in June.

Applying for the All-America City Award

AAC Criteria Civic Engagement and Collaboration Inclusiveness and Diversity Innovation Impact and Future Planning and Vision

The Selection Process September 2015-February 2016: Monthly conference calls November 4, 2015: Submit Letter of Intent to Apply (Save $100 on your application fee when you submit a Letter of Intent to Apply by November 4, 2015)(not required to apply) Application submitted by March 9, 2016: (electronic and one printed copy) Finalists announced in April 2016: invited to Denver to present to national jury. Ten winners chosen based on application and presentation at the conclusion of June 2016 Peer-Learning Workshops & Awards Presentation/Competition in Denver, Colorado

Keeping Costs Low! Application fee: $200 (Save $100 on your application fee when you submit a Letter of Intent to Apply by November, 4, 2015) Registration fees at AAC competition: $100 per person − includes jury presentations, workshops and 3 receptions − average delegation size: 26 − 4 free registrations per community Travel costs: transportation, hotel, meals, etc. (Note: AAC 2016 will be held in Denver, CO – a great family vacation destination!)

The Application

The Major Components of the Application Community & contact information Your community’s story and challenges Three locally-driven projects

Community Information Community Name - what do you wish to be called? Community Application Designation - neighborhood, town, tribe, city, county, or region? Contact Information - who is your primary contact for on- going communication? Community Statistics - the facts that help describe your community State Map – showing the location of your community (simple, 8.5”x11”)

Part I: Tell your community’s story This section is an opportunity for your community to demonstrate how you have engaged in the process of becoming a strong, healthy and vibrant community!

Tell us your story, continued… How does your community address its challenges? How does your community plan for the future? What is your community’s vision? How are the neighborhoods, government, businesses, and nonprofits organizations engaged in these efforts? Show us how the different sectors of your population are working together to make your community great! How does your community recognize and celebrate its diversity and demonstrate inclusiveness?

Part II: Community-Driven Projects Describe three recent community-driven projects that have significantly improved the community in the last five years Projects should address your community’s unique challenges We encourage, but do not require any projects addressing the 2016 theme “ensuring all children are healthy and supported to succeed in school and life” − See application for more details See application

Helpful Hints re: Projects Provide a measurable result and demonstrate improvement in the lives of those affected Diversity - inclusive, citizen-driven initiatives will prevail over projects implemented by a single organization Do not try to include too many projects!

AAC Keys to Success Remember the criteria Don’t forget the power of a good story Start fundraising now! Use the resources available to you − america-city-award/ america-city-award/

Application and Resources Full application is available by visiting our web site at all-america-city-award/ all-america-city-award/ NCL Staff - (303) NCL’s Civic Index Connect with an AAC mentor

More Questions? Call Sarah Lipscomb at NCL (303) or

We look forward to receiving your application via at and at our National Civic League 6000 East Evans Ave Suite Denver, CO Good luck!