Cedar Rapids Named Finalist for All-America City Award

The National Civic League has announced Cedar Rapids as a finalist for the 2014 All-America City Awards.

The National Civic League’s All-America City Award is a program that recognizes communities where citizens work to identify and overcome city-wide challenges and achieve uncommon results. This year’s award has a special focus on successful efforts to address the underlying conditions that affect the health of communities.

The Cedar Rapids application focused on the city’s challenge to rebuild a healthier community after the flood, using three pillars: neighborhood revitalization, commitment to arts and culture and creating a culture of health and well-being.

The Cedar Rapids All-America City Award planning committee consisted of city staff from Community Development, Development Services and the library, as well as community organizations such as Healthways and the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. The group invited citizens and business leaders to share their stories and help to shape the direction of the application at a kick-off event in January.

A Cedar Rapids delegation will present to a jury of civic experts during the Peer-Learning Workshops & Awards Presentation/Competition at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Denver from June 13-15. The jury will select 10 winners.