Kinston and Statesville Named All-America Cities

7/1/2009 8:05:00 AM

Kinston and Statesville, both NC Public Power communities, are among the 10 cities recently chosen as 2009 All-America Cities.

The All-America City winners were announced during the 60th annual celebration of the award at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina on June 19. Joining Kinston and Statesville are award winners Phoenix; Albany, N.Y.; Wichita, Kan.; Inglewood, Calif.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Richmond, Ind.; and Sommerville, Mass.

Benson was one of 32 finalists in its first year of competition.

The All-America City program recognizes neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, counties and metro regions for outstanding civic accomplishments. To win, communities must demonstrate their ability to address serious challenges with innovative, grassroots strategies that promote civic engagement and cooperation between the public, private and nonprofit sectors. After applying for the award, a group of finalists are selected. Each finalist must prepare an in-depth presentation to a panel of judges. From the group of finalists, 10 winners are selected.

“All-America Cities are models of civic excellence, with strong community-based initiatives and broad community support,” said T. Graham Edwards, CEO of ElectriCities. “It is no surprise to me that three NC Public Power communities were recognized as finalists, with Kinston and Statesville recognized as All-America Cities. Public power communities are strong, vibrant communities in which to live and work, and we are thrilled that Kinston and Statesville have been recognized for their outstanding achievements.”

Kinston

For its presentation, Kinston - which also won the award in 1988 - showcased three community projects resulting in significant local impact during the past five years: The Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority project, the Little-By- Little education project, and The Gate project which helps keep kids off the streets and away from crime.

The water project is the largest funded water project to date in the history of the USDA in the United States. Funds totaling $48 million were committed from federal, state, local and private sources. The national-precedent setting project provides clean water to sustain life, create jobs, and promote economic development in eastern North Carolina.

Little-By-Little is a long-term mentoring project that begins with elementary school children and carries through until graduation from high school. The program incorporates short-term and long-term goals to help students earn money for college through meeting educational goals.

The Gate project is a non-profit collaborative, faith-based initiative, between Kinston, federal, and state agencies, Lenoir County, private investors, local churches, and private citizens to promote gang awareness and prevention. The Gate offers various functions and activities, including career development, preparing for GED exams and building character traits such as respect and honesty.

Read more about the Kinston presentation.

Statesville

More than 50 people traveled over 600 miles to present Statesville’s merits for receiving the award.
David Bradley, president of the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce, said the delegation communicated to the judges the love the city’s residents feel for their town.
“You can go into a lot of communities, but you don’t feel the spirit we have,” Bradley said.

Representatives depicted Statesville as a city that was reaching across the cultural divide to embrace a rapidly changing community and one that was reinventing itself with the cooperation of government officials, churches, businesses and residents.
“Do you hear that rhythm?” Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh asked judges as a member of the Statesville High School Drum line pounded quietly on a hand drum. “That’s the rhythm of hope.”
In its awards application, each city is asked to identify two problems or challenges facing the community, and two solutions that have been used to address those challenges.

Statesville highlighted its efforts to overcome cultural segregation as its main challenge, pointing to the successes of the Mi Familia Institute and Fifth Street Shelter Ministries in serving the needs of its Hispanic community and reducing homelessness. The city also highlighted the recently opened Boys & Girls Club, as an example of a youth initiative that’s providing recreational opportunities for disadvantaged children.
Nearing the end of Statesville’s 10-minute presentation, Judge Sharon Metz spoke up, “We do hear the rhythm of hope. It’s a message of inspiration not just for your community, but for the nation as a whole.”

Read more about the Statesville presentation.

Benson

For Benson’s presentation, a six-person delegation of town leaders and citizens discussed downtown revitalization, business retention and recruitment, such as The Pound Cake Company expansion; and Not Just Another Community Center, which is an after-school center for children.

Read more about the Benson presentation.

About All-America City

The All-America City award is the oldest community recognition program in the nation. Since its inception in 1949, more than 4,000 communities have competed and over 500 have been named winners. This year’s winners addressed such pressing and topical issues as housing for seniors, immigration, education and economic development.

“There’s wonderful work going on around the country in communities small and large,” said NCL Board Chair Sandra Freedman. “It’s uplifting to find that out because we always hear the bad, and these are great stories. This is the good.”

Founded in 1894 by Theodore Roosevelt and other government reformers, NCL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that accomplishes its mission through training, technical assistance, publishing, facilitating community-wide strategic planning and awards programs.

“These communities give us outstanding examples of leadership and civic innovation,” said National Civic League President Gloria Rubio-Cortés. “The All-America City Award is like an Oscar for civic accomplishment.”