Governor's Home Town Awards Program By STEVE McCLURE, Director, DCCA

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, in cooperation with the Governor's Office of Voluntary Action and the Department on Aging, is now accepting applications for the Ninth Annual Governor's Home Town Awards Program. For the first time since its inception, two corporate sponsors, Illinois Bell and State Farm Insurance Companies, have agreed to support the Program. With their assistance in recognizing voluntary citizen participation in community improvement and economic development efforts, this year's program should be better than ever.

The Home Town Awards Program can help communities by giving statewide recognition to those volunteer efforts that have made their home towns better places in which to live, work, play and conduct business. Any city or village, or other local government, community organization, community action agency, or group of citizens within Illinois is eligible to enter the competition.

DCCA has Application Guidebooks available for use in submitting projects (one Application Guidebook must be used for each entry.) Completed applications must be received by the Department no later than April 16, 1990.

Projects should reflect broad volunteer support and participation. If a project was started prior to 1989, it may still be entered, although the judges will be examining only the portion accomplished in the immediate past calendar year.

Many projects meet the criteria for consideration: commercial/industrial retention or attraction, job creation, development of a small business incubator, downtown improvements, parks and playgrounds, farmers' markets, sidewalk replacement, art workshops, adult literacy programs, nature centers, blood-banks and bloodmobiles, meals on wheels and many more.

Judging of the projects, which is done by a panel of impartial volunteer judges, is based on four criteria: addressing an important community need, heavy commitment of volunteer resources, generating tangible results, and widespread community support. Preliminary judging is done during the month of May with site visits conducted in those communities surviving the "cut".

Even projects involving several communities are eligible for participation, although only one project application need be submitted for a joint project. There is no limit on the number of projects that a community may submit.

There are four project categories. Any project of any type which contributes to a community's overall improvement and quality of life may be submitted under the general category.

In addition, there are three special award categories. The special categories are: Economic Development projects, Youth Involvement projects and a Senior Citizens category. The youth and senior citizen projects should be selected, planned and conducted with the direct involvement of the community's youth or senior citizens. The Economic Development category should involve volunteers in helping to create or retain jobs in the private sector of the community. Examples include the building of a small business incubator or volunteer efforts of retired corporate executives to help new and developing small businesses.

Communities may also enter a project for consider-

March 1990 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 17

ation in more than one category. For example, any of the "special" category projects may also be considered in the overall "general" category.

Special effort is made to keep the process as equitable as possible. Governor's Home Town Awards applications are placed in groups according to population, assuring that projects compete against others of similar size.

In each community population category, a recognition road sign and plaque will be presented to the first, second and third place winners noting their achievement in the Governor's Home Town Awards Program. Remaining winning projects will receive recognition certificates. Road signs and plaques will also be presented to the best project in each of the special categories.

The grand prize winner will be selected from the first prize winners of all categories and will receive the traveling silver Governor's Cup at the awards banquet, held during June.

Last year, Mason City won this honor. A group of concerned Mason City citizens met to discuss alternatives that might stimulate their area's economy. A definite need was determined, a committee formed, and a fund raising effort was begun. These volunteers raised over $730,000 for construction of a 99 bed nursing home facility that can house up to 17 skilled care, 49 intermediate care, and 33 sheltered care residents. This nursing home has also provided the area with 65 full-time jobs, a true benefit to the entire community.

Previous year's winners include:

Brown County — 1988. The Brown County Development Corporation, working to diversify its economic base which had been largely agricultural, succeeded in attracting a $41 million state prison to Mt. Sterling. The facility will employ 400 workers and is currently under construction. In addition, DOT Foods, Inc. announced a $5 million expansion, providing 250 jobs; volunteers undertook a fund raising effort to build a swimming pool and recreational area and to place downtown Mt. Sterling on the National Register of Historic Places, and succeeded in attracting the prestigious Stallion Stakes harness race to the Brown County Fair.

The City of Evanston — 1987. The Council of Elders (COE) in Evanston offers help to the youth of the community by providing counseling, activity centers, and neighborhood car and foot patrols to deter criminal activities that could involve youth. Through their work, the COE Pops and COE Moms promote respect for the law, help youth develop self-respect, provide recreation, education and economic opportunity, and promote racial harmony.

The Village of Royal — 1986. This community of 174 citizens raised $145,000 to furnish and construct a community building. With the exception of bricklaying, volunteers provided all other labor including the cleaning of reclaimed brick. Value of the completed building is estimated in excess of $300,000.

In 1985, Decatur formed a committee known as the "Decatur Advantage" which accomplished their goals of improving public facilities, creating a higher standard of living, community education and training services, and reaching a goal of creating 400 jobs each year beyond normal growth. As a result of the committee's efforts, $556,000 was received in cash, pledges, donated materials and volunteer hours.

In 1984, Barry formed a committee, purchased land and built a community swimming pool. Citizens of Barry and surrounding communities keep the pool busy all summer.

Back in 1983, Wilsonville citizens banded together to stop a company which was dumping hazardous wastes into a landfill which could contaminate the town's water supply. Their successful efforts won the first governor's cup.

We at DCCA would be happy to send you more information on the Governor's Home Town Awards Program or an Application Guidebook. Contact Bob Glatz using the Department's toll-free Local Government Hotline number, 1-800-562-4688. •

Page 18 / Illinois Municipal Review / March 1990