Gastonia named one of 10 All-America Cities for 2010 (Charlotte, Raleigh: neighborhoods, quality of life)

[NCgirl]

The National Civic League crowned 10 winners during the 2010 All-America City Awards on Friday night in Kansas City, Mo. Here are the winners in the order in which they were announced:

1. North Miami, Fla.
2. Salisbury, Md.
3. Rancho Cordova, Calif.
4. Mount Pleasant, S.C.
5. El Paso, Texas
6. Chandler, Ariz.
7. Lynwood, Calif.
8. Acworth, Ga.
9. Des Moines, Iowa
10. Gastonia

Gastonia named All-America City for second time in 10 years

National Civic League About the All-America City Award

All-America City Award is America's original and most prestigious community recognition award. Since 1949, the Award has honored communities of all sizes (cities, towns, counties, neighborhoods and regions) where community members, government, businesses and nonprofit organizations work together to address critical local issues. More than 500 communities have earned this distinguished title and many have earned it more than once.

If your community works collaboratively to overcome local challenges, it could become an All-America City. The application process alone represents a valuable opportunity to evaluate the way your community manages opportunities and challenges, which can make your community stronger. Communities that earn the All-America City title realize numerous benefits, including:
Local, state, and national recognition
Greater civic pride and greater civic collaboration
Economic stimulus

Award Criteria

Participation of the public, private and nonprofit sectors and key constituencies to the maximum extent possible;
Recognition and involvement of diverse segments and perspectives (ethnic, racial, socio-economic, age, etc.) in community decision-making;
Creative use and leveraging of community resources;
Significant and specific community achievements;
Projects that address the community’s most important needs;
Cooperation across jurisdictional boundaries;
Clear demonstration of project results and impacts (dollars raised or lives impacted);
Projects which have impacted the community significantly within the last three years, and have potential to continue improving the quality of life; and
At least one project should document ways in which the lives of children and youth have been tangibly improved.

Past NC winners

Asheville - 1969, 1997
Ashville- Buncombe County -1951
Charlotte - 1968
Charlotte-Mecklenburg - 1990
Clinton - 2007
Concord - 2004
Dunn - 1989
Durham - 1982-83
Fayetteville - 1984-85, 2001
Gastonia - 1963, 2000
Greensboro -1966,1991
Hamlet - 1990
Hickory -1967, 1986-87, 2007
High Point - 1962
Jacksonville - 1992
Kinston - 1988, 2009
Lenoir - 2008
Laurinburg - 1956, 1967, 2003
Lumberton - 1970, 1995
Mt. Airy - 1994
New Bern- 1989
Raleigh - 1974-75
Reidsville - 2008
Rockingham- 1979-80
Rocky Mount - 1969, 1999
Salisbury - 1961
Shelby - 1970
Statesville - 1997, 2009
Tarboro - 1976-77
Washington - 1993
Wilmington - 1965
Wilson - 1972, 2003
Winston-Salem - 1959, 1964