2025 All-America City Award Applications Due 3/6

​NCDD member organization, the National Civic League, is accepting applications for the 2025 All-America City Award until Thursday, March 6th. This year's theme, ‘Strengthening Environmental Sustainability through Inclusive Community Engagement,’ seeks to identify communities that are advancing environmental sustainability through collaborative efforts. Only one of the featured projects has to relate to the theme, so they welcome communities addressing other challenges as well. Learn more in the post below and on NCL's site linked here.

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Since 1949, the National Civic League has honored towns, cities, counties, tribes, and regions with the prestigious All-America City Award, recognizing excellence in civic innovation, engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. As an NCDD member organization, NCL upholds the belief that strong democracies are built through inclusive dialogue and active community participation, which form the foundation of the AAC award. 

The 2025 All-America City Award theme, "Strengthening Environmental Sustainability through Inclusive Community Engagement," underscores the urgent need for collaborative climate action. Communities are invited to highlight initiatives that engage residents, businesses, nonprofits, and government leaders in efforts to combat climate change, promote sustainability, and enhance resilience. 

All-America City applicants are encouraged to showcase how their communities are fostering environmental sustainability through inclusive, community-driven projects. The application will focus on the strength of a community’s civic capital—the networks, relationships, and collaborative efforts that enable effective decision-making and problem-solving. Communities should highlight at least one project directly related to this year’s theme, along with other initiatives that demonstrate a commitment to civic engagement, equity, and innovation in addressing local challenges.

Applications are due by March 6th, 2025. Twenty finalists will be announced and invited to present their projects at the All-America City Award event in Denver, CO, from June 27-29, 2025. This event will bring together diverse community teams to share best practices, learn from national thought leaders, and showcase their transformative work to a distinguished jury. Ultimately, ten communities will be crowned All-America Cities, joining a prestigious network of changemakers nationwide.

The All-America City Award highlights the power of communities working together to overcome challenges and create lasting positive change. By recognizing outstanding efforts in civic engagement, environmental sustainability, and cross-sector collaboration, the award showcases the inspiring ways communities across the country are building a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future.

Read more at: https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/america-city-award/