Cities Competing for MML Awards, Public Asked to Vote
(MML Press Release, July 4, 2015)
Sixteen projects, programs, and initiatives involving more than 20 Michigan communities are vying for the statewide Community Excellence Award (CEA)—the most prestigious Michigan Municipal League honor.
The communities involved in this year’s competition are Allegan, Auburn Hills, Battle Creek, Berkley, Birmingham, Byron, Coldwater, Ferndale, Jackson, Linden, Madison Heights, Marshall, Mt. Pleasant, Oakland County, Orion Township, Pontiac, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, South Haven, Spring Lake, Warren, and Westland.
This year’s competition includes an online voting component open to the general public starting today. The online voting, which ends July 15, and a panel of judges will decide which top four projects will go on to compete at the League’s 2015 Convention in Traverse City, Sept. 17-20. The statewide winner will be decided by Convention attendees and announced Sept. 20.
“We made some significant changes for the 2015 competition to keep it fresh and relevant,” said Dan Gilmartin, the League’s executive director and CEO. “The online voting portion is particularly exciting because now everyone can take part in helping promote the innovative things happening in their communities.”
Another significant change in this year’s program is to break the entries into four placemaking categories outlined in the League’s Partnership for Place agenda. The categories are Funding for the Future, Michigan in Motion, Place for Talent, and Strength in Structure. The online voting and a panel of judges will pick a top winner in each category with the final four vying for the statewide title at the Convention.
Since 2007, the CEA has been the League’s most prestigious community award. It’s also affectionately called the Race for the Cup because the winning community gets a large trophy as bragging rights for the year.
Here is a look at this year’s projects by category (click on each project title for additional details):
Funding for the Future:
– Public Employer Sponsored Health and Wellness Centers: Jointly submitted by the cities of Battle Creek, Ferndale, Madison Heights, and Royal Oak
– 5-Year LED Street Lighting Conversion Project: City of Warren
– Hannah’s Bark Park; City of Mt. Pleasant
– Bringing Byron Back!: Village of Byron
– Flood of Community Benefits Realized for NOCWA Members: Jointly submitted by the cities of Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, Pontiac; Oakland County and Orion Township.
Michigan in Motion:
– The Albion-Marshall Connector: City of Marshall
– Transforming Woodward Together – The Journey to Better Transit: Jointly submitted by the cities of Berkley, Birmingham, and Ferndale
Place for Talent:
– Allegan is a Place for Talent: City of Allegan
– Citizen Interaction Design (CID): City of Jackson
– Linden Mural: City of Linden
Strength in Structure:
– A Gift to the Community: City of Coldwater
– Coolidge Municipal Parking Project: City of Berkley
– Elkenburg Park Community Build: City of South Haven
– Rochester Hills Museum Calf Barn Adaptive Reuse Project: City of Rochester Hills
– This Collaboration Makes Sense (& Dollars): Village of Spring Lake
– Westland City Hall Big Box Retrofit: City of Westland
About the League: The Michigan Municipal League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington D.C., and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services.