CUOMO ANNOUNCES AWARDS FOR CITY/COUNTY INNOVATIONS AND COOPERATION

See full list of awards

WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo, in partnership with the Joint Center for Sustainable Communities, today awarded the first annual HUD Secretary's Awards for City/County Innovations.

Awards went to programs in Yuma, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Northampton County, Virginia. The awards honor innovative city and county collaborations in areas such as governance, economic strategies, affordable housing, reducing housing discrimination, and sustainable growth.

"The experts agree that the next century will be a century of regions, and strong regions are the key to economic success," Cuomo said. "These innovative programs understand that, and I congratulate them for their vision."

The Joint Center for Sustainable Communities was formed in 1996 through a partnership between the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Association of Counties. Through the Joint Center's groundbreaking work, communities are being connected to jobs, redeveloping brownfields, conserving open space, reducing air pollution and enhancing the character of neighborhoods.

The Joint Center gave awards to a total of 15 programs, with HUD bestowing its Secretary's Award on five. The other 10 awards go to programs in Arizona, California, Maryland, Idaho, Ohio, and Oregon.

Cuomo announced the awards today at the HUD-sponsored Bridging the Divide conference. Cuomo convened the two-day conference to focus on how cities, suburbs, and the federal Government can work together to achieve livable, sustainable communities. More than 200 State and local government officials and civic, community, and business leaders from around the country participated.

Content Archived: January 20, 2009