The City of Denton was in need of a program to combat organizational challenges including a high level of employees that were nearing retirement eligibility as well as economic growth locally, but more importantly in other areas, resulting in job turnover. LEEP was implemented in order to seek individuals with leadership qualities and helping foster these employees into the leaders that were so needed in Denton. The program has been nominated for the 2016 Local Government Excellence Awards in the category of Strategic Leadership & Governance (populations of 50,000 and greater).