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PRESS RELEASE
- APRIL 20th, 2004
"America’s
Most Livable Communities Award"
Presented by Partners for Livable Communities on
April 20, 2004 at the National Press Club Event with Launch
of a specially
designed website and electronic Clearinghouse on Livability
(Washington, DC) — America’s economy is
strengthening according to a Labor Department report issued
last week. Jobs are coming back and less workers are being
laid off. Although full recovery cannot be predicted at this
stage, there are strong indications that the American economy
is switching gears and gaining momentum once again.
Thirty American communities have contributed to this turn-around,
by taking a novel approach to economic development, utilizing
assets such as arts and cultural resources, creative financing
strategies, cross-county partnerships, and collaborative leadership
to re-animate downtowns and develop their communities so that
they become competitive in the new global arena.
Partners for Livable Communities, a national non-profit organization
who has been working at the frontlines of livability for over
twenty-five years, honored this decade’s America’s
Most Livable Communities, whose innovations in the
increasingly popular creative economy have brought vitality
and growth to their regions while not loosing sight of quality
of life issues for their residents.
This announcement was made at the National Press Club on
Tuesday, April 20, 2004. William K. Reilly, former administrator
of the US Environmental Protection Agency served as Emcee
of the event. The Honorable John Snow, United States Secretary
of the Treasury was scheduled to make the Keynote address,
however was called away that morning to give testimony on
Capitol Hill. Secretary Snow’s office did provide a letter
from President George W. Bush commending these cities on their
unique accomplishments and their contribution to the renewal
of the American economy. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
gave a written proclamation on livability while focusing on
his state’s six honored cities. Additionally, a representative
of Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, who has three cities
represented on the list, made brief remarks on the Michigan’s
"Cool Cities" initiative that links economic success
to the creative and productive power of cities.
Attendees of the event included a large civic delegation
from each award-winning community, livability experts, members
of the federal government, and press from all media outlets.
The mayor or designated leader from each honored community
was invited on stage to formally receive the award, while
being showcased to the national media. In addition to this
announcement, a brand new website was unveiled that will showcase
America’s Most Livable communities. The website is an
interactive site highlighting each of the honored cities with
an extensive profile of information and graphics while providing
many links back to the cities own proprietary websites. [http://www.mostlivable.org]
The criteria for this decade’s Livability honors is
determined from Partners’ on-going work with communities
developing themselves in the creative economy. Each of the
chosen communities have taken major strides to prepare itself
for the new global economy and as a result, 2004’s America’s
Most Livable Communities are among the nation’s
top destinations for travel, business investment, relocation,
learning, retiring, and living.
Partners has looked at four separate and distinct types of
places: Large Cities, Mid-Sized Cities, Small Cities, and
Regions. The following 30 communities were honored and represented
at the National Press Club on April 20:
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