Trendsetter Cities
January 9, 2025
-
Statehouse Convention Center
Little Rock
Presented By
In Partnership With
For sponsorship or ticket information contact:
Tiffany Mattzela
Event Director
tmattzela@abpg.com
501.455.9334
Winners will be recognized in the following categories:
- Infrastructure/Water: Recognize cities/towns who have found innovative ways to preserve existing infrastructure and minimize repair costs or time including underground utilities, streets, etc.; protecting public waterways; wastewater treatment innovation; etc
- Education/Workforce: Development Recognize unique programs that are improving graduation rates; raising the education standards in K-12; programs that are developing a more qualified workforce for employers. Programs can be a public/private partnership and do not have to be a municipally led program. The quality of a city is determined by its citizens
- Public Works (COMBINED category): Environmental and Green Management; Planning & Land Use; Parks & Recreation; Energy Resource Management and public safety programs
- Technology & Security: Advances in local broadband to improve education and or local access. Advances in using technology to improve city communications or services or steps taken to improve cybersecurity practices.
- Diversity & Inclusion: Steps taken to promote diversity and inclusion; empower citizens with information and how to respond; and creating opportunities for minority populations. Including actions that the City has taken to make its services or meetings available to more of its citizens. Overcoming barriers that could include: race, gender, language, economic status, new to the community, geographic, etc.
- Tourism Development/Creative Culture: Recognize cities/towns who are building unique venues, attractions, museums, etc to not only attract tourism but also improve the quality of life of citizens.
The Rules:
The competition is divided into three population categories to allow cities to compete with other cities of comparable size. The population categories are: cities less than 5,000 population; 5,000-20,000 population; and more than 20,000.
Application Information:
- Each city can submit one award application in each award category.
- Entries must describe programs or projects brought to conclusion or showing significant results between July 2020 and July 2024.
- An official entry application must be submitted for each project.
- Entry Forms must be received in the Arkansas Business office by 5:00 p.m. August 31, 2024 or be postmarked on or before that date. Entry forms should be submitted to:
Bonnie Jacoby
Arkansas Business Publishing Group
114 Scott Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
Or
Emailed to: Bonnie@abpg.com
- The entry must include all required information, such as completed entry form, a concise description of the project or program, and adhere to the space requirement of four pages double-spaced for the written description and no more than four pages of supporting material.
- If a city submits entries in multiple categories the page limit applies to each category individually.
- Winners will be notified in September 2024.