City/County Named Finalist for 2007 All-America City Award

Mayor Graham Richard and Allen County Commissioner Nelson Peters have received notice that the Fort Wayne/Allen County community is one of 21 cities being considered for the prestigious All-America City Award for 2007.  

The finalists will participate in the All-America City competition in Anaheim, California, June 6-8, 2007. The City of Fort Wayne has won the award before in 1998, 1982 and 1954, but this is the first time that the City and County collaborated in the competitive process.

The All-America City application is based on criteria set by the National Civic League (www.ncl.org) and communities must demonstrate successful resolutions of issues through collaborative efforts.  For a community to be named an All-America City, it must include the following: active citizen involvement, effective and efficient government performance, maximized local philanthropic and volunteer resources, a strong capacity for cooperation and consensus building, community vision and pride, inter-group relations, community information sharing, and intercommunity cooperation.

Typically, the All-America City Award helps communities gain and retain businesses that generate jobs and a stronger tax base because it attracts and retains residents who want a healthy community.  Finalists and winners also have seen an increase in tourism, grants and bond ratings.

For more information about what Fort Wayne/Allen County will be doing in preparation for the All-America City Award finals, contact Denise Porter-Ross, 260-427-2603, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., to get an electronic copy of the 2007 application.