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Tag: "All-America City Finalists"

Downey, California

In the last two decades, the city has faced and overcome the loss of an employer that once provided 20,000 engineering and manufacturing jobs, and turned that loss into a state-of-the-art, 18,000 square foot science learning center with a national memorial to the crew of the doomed Space Shuttle Columbia flight in 2003.

Through interactive educational programs and exhibits, and unique historical resources, the center provides experiences which inspire people of all ages to enhance their understanding of space related sciences, to recognize the value of technologies developed through the space program, and to engage in the exploration of Planet Earth and the universe beyond.

The center targets and encourages students, especially those from underrepresented groups, to discover science, technology, engineering, and math in exciting and innovative ways.

May 15, 2013 | 0 comments | View Post

Birmingham, Alabama

During the recent recession, Birmingham began to explore innovative ways of improving economic conditions and the quality of life through public/private partnerships.

A land-swap between the City of Birmingham and the University of Alabama Birmingham paved the way for a $64 million project to build Regions Field for the Birmingham Barons, a minor league baseball team. A new, 19-acre Railroad Park downtown received an Open Space Award from the Urban Land Institute.

Other projects include a $400 million expansion for Children’s of Alabama, an international hospital, and a revival of the city’s historic Theater District. The Avondale neighborhood is reversing a declining trend with the help of a downtown economic development group, Avondale Brewery, residents, and federal stimulus funding.

Less than a mile away, the impoverished neighborhood of Woodlawn has seen development of a different kind—an $11 million investment from the YWCA of Central Alabama to build a six-family shelter and renovate 58 nearby apartments. YWCA has also brought a Family Resource Center and health, education, and employment services to the community…… 

May 2, 2013 | 0 comments | View Post

Richmond, Indiana Third Grade Reading Academy

In 2009, Richmond won an All-America City Award from the National Civic League for outstanding civic accomplishments. The Third Grade Reading Academy was one of the successful local programs highlighted in their application for the award.

Jointly funded by the school district now, the academy is in its fourth year, and word of its success has spread. Two communities in Canada are now using it as a model for their summer reading programs, although they are using a different name, the Reading University. “They can call it anything they want to,” says Vic Jose, one of the academy founders, “as long as they are helping third graders reach their potential.”

Here is a blog post I did on the reading academy for State of the Re:Union. And here is Jeff’s more recent video highlighting the program.

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading – Richmond, Indiana from Jeffrey Hatcher on Vimeo.

The 2012 All-America City Awards will have a special focus on community reading programs. Find out more by linking here.

August 10, 2011 | 1 comment | View Post

All-America City Award projects: Taylor Landing, Texas

Faced with an aging sewage treatment plant, residents of Taylor Landing mounted an all-volunteer community effort to build a new sewage treatment plant. The plant was completed in November of 2010, but during the permitting process for the plant, Hurricane Ike destroyed an extensive portion of the sewage treatment distribution pipe. The City of Taylor Landing qualified for, applied for and received a community development block grant from FEMA and the Texas Department of Rural Affairs to repair this pipe by a process known as “blasting.” A machine travels down the old pipe and breaks it up and removes it and then the new pipe is pushed through the hole, eliminating the need to excavate. The plant is now totally modernized and TCEQ compliant after a total investment of one million dollars. With no payroll and no employees, the newly incorporated city was able to accomplish these tasks only by calling on extensive volunteer help from the residents. All tasks were performed by volunteers, who retained, supervised, and approved of the work of the paid contractors, the civil engineer and accounting firm. The work represented an investment of approximately one million dollars and serves the community of one hundred homes and 228 residents.

April 23, 2011 | 4 comments | View Post

All-America City Award projects: Beloit, Wisconsin

Fairbanks Flats

Constructed in 1920 by Fairbanks Morse, Beloit’s largest employer in those days, Fairbanks Flats served as segregated housing for the migrating African American workers during the labor shortages of World War I. Unfortunately, changing ownership and poor maintenance degraded the buildings to the point of inhabitation. Fairbanks Flats was facing demolition when a neighborhood group spoke up for a community-driven effort to restore the buildings. A community/city planning committee was soon formed to find potential developers. In 2006, Gorman & Company approached the city and agreed to restore Fairbanks Flats. Beloit donated Fairbanks Flats to Gorman and provided a $150,000 interest-free reconstruction grant. Additional support came from the state in the form of $2 million in low-income housing tax credits and by providing advanced technology and services to assist tenants with hearing disabilities. Throughout the process, Gorman employed a 33 percent minority workforce from the neighborhood. This allowed for valuable skills development and the development of relationships with contractors for future employment opportunities. Also, the rent-to-own feature implemented by Gorman provided the low- to moderate-income tenants with counseling and support in homeownership, and the eventual ability to purchase their units at a discounted price. Through the collaborative efforts of the city, state, community, and Gorman & Company, a significant piece of local history and culture was preserved, while developing the skills of residents. Fairbanks Flats is no longer a symbol of deterioration, but that of a common history and community.

Read more….

April 18, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post