Congratulations Richland County

[Lakal]

Good News!:balloons:



Richland wins All-America City award

Richland County residents have a new reason to be proud.

Weeks of hard work helped land the county in an elite group of places honored with an All-America City award.

Richland was among 10 winners announced Sunday night by the National Civic League in Anaheim, Calif. Eight other S.C. communities have won the designation since 1949.

Over two days, 30 finalists delivered 10-minute presentations and then answered questions from a panel of judges.

Until the announcement came, Richland County’s delegation was “on pins and needles. We were all holding hands,” spokeswoman Stephany Snowden said late Sunday.

A communitywide event, which might feature a re-enactment of the county’s presentation, will be held after delegates return to Columbia, Snowden said. A date has not been set.

“It’s a great day for the Midlands,” Snowden said. “It’s a great day for South Carolina.”

[swampfox]

We worked long and hard for this recognition. I would personally like to thank all who helped.

[Captain Worley]

Did we get a trophy?

[ZooFuzz]

If counties can apply, why didn't we call it All American County Award!!!
QUOTE"I'm tremendously proud of our staff and our community for being selected as an All-America City (yes Counties can apply). Several months ago I decided to submit an application for the All-America City Award. County staff has simply been phenomenal in working together to submit an application that was chosen as a finalist.

The National Civic League has named Richland County a finalist for the 2006 All-America City Award program. The All-America City (AAC) Award program is the nation's oldest community recognition effort. Founded in 1949 by then National Civic League (NCL) board chair George Gallup Sr., the AAC Award recognizes communities of all size--including neighborhoods, towns, cities, counties and regions--who have made major progress in meeting their most important needs.

The All-America City Award application is purposely arduous to ensure only the most deserving of communities apply and are selected. Each year, only small percentages (roughly 5%) of those that begin the application process decide in the end that they have substance to meet the AAC criteria and have the drive to be named an All-America City. This year some 600 communities initiated the process and only 70 applications completed. Richland County is one of thirty four finalists.

Richland County shall compete for the designation in Anaheim, CA in June 10th.

County staff is currently putting together a budget and in the process of pulling together a civic committee. Being named a finalist in this competition is a tremendous honor and we would appreciate your support in soliciting community support as well as in pulling together the final presentation.

J. Milton Pope
County Administrator, Interim "