Three communities were recognized during ICMA’s 102nd Annual Conference in Kansas City in September with Community Partnership Awards. These awards recognize innovative programs or processes between and/or among a local government and other governmental entities, private sector businesses, individuals or nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life for residents or provide more efficient and effective services.

 

Bayside, Wisconsin, received the award for the Overcoming the Unspeakable Program. In 2013, 75% of Bayside homes still drew their water from wells. This was after three decades of ongoing discussions about the issue. A unique partnership was created with all stakeholders: the village; private unincorporated resident municipal water associations; an adjacent community that would provide the water; a private municipal water operator; and a variety of technical experts. Access to municipal water increased to 86% from 25%; 79% of homes in the project area chose to connect to water; and the village spent more than $10 million on public infrastructure construction, financed by residents.

 

The Idaho cities of Twin Falls, Jerome, and Burley received the award for their SIEDO Program. At the turn of the century, communities in Southern Idaho were struggling to attract and retain businesses. Funds for economic development were limited and there was little coordination among area communities. In 2001, the cities of Twin Falls and Jerome offered funding to help launch a public-private venture, Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization (SIEDO). Over the next few years, eight other communities joined the effort, chief among them was the city of Burley. The goal was to grow southern Idaho communities with healthy economic diversification and good paying jobs. In 15 years, the area has attracted capital investments exceeding $1 billion and has created well over 5,000 jobs. Major companies have moved to the area, including Chobani Yogurt, Clif Bars, and DOT foods, to name just a few. The U.S. Commerce Department recognized Southern Idaho in 2015 as one of 12 Federal Manufacturing Communities in the country, opening new sources of federal funding and giving the region’s efforts national prominence.

 

Dublin, California, received the award for the Emerald Vista--A Successful Public-Private Partnership to Create an Integrated Residential Neighborhood. In the 1980s, Arroyo Vista, a low-income garden apartments complex was built. By the mid-2010s, the residents and city council wanted to improve the property, but had no public funding as federal resources were scarce. The goal was to preserve affordable housing, while creating a vibrant mixed-income community that provided onsite amenities for the neighborhood. The city decided to redevelop the site into what is now called Emerald Vista. The city and the housing authority partnered with Eden Housing, one of California’s oldest and most successful nonprofit developers, and KB Home, a market rate homebuilder. Construction began in 2012. The development includes 180 affordable apartments--50 reserved for seniors and 130 for families. There are also 198 for-sale single-family and townhomes, 14 of which were reserved for moderate-income households. Emerald Vista is at 100% occupancy.

About the Awards

ICMA’s Local Government Excellence Awards honor creative contributions to professional local government management and increase public awareness of the value of professional management to the quality of life in our communities. Each year, ICMA confers awards in four program and five professional excellence categories. 

Nominations will be accepted beginning in early January for the 2017 program, and awards will be conferred during ICMA’s 103rd Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas; October 22-25, 2017. Direct questions to Felicia Littky, awards program manager, at flittky@icma.org or 202/962-3656.

More information is available on the award-winning programs in the ICMA 2016 Awards Booklet.