Date: April 30, 2003 

Miami Beach Selected as a 2003 All-America City Finalist
-- National Civic League Recognizes Civic Excellence --

Miami Beach, FL – The City of Miami Beach has been selected as one of 30 finalists for the 2003 All-America City Award; the only municipality in Miami-Dade County to have been selected this year. The All-America City Award is the nation's longest running and one of the most prestigious civic recognition programs in the country.

“Miami Beach has thrived amidst change and overcome many difficulties because of its civic culture. Recent challenges such as managing growth, maintaining the infrastructure, balancing residential and visitor needs, and facing uncertain economic times have brought the community together to not only to find solutions but to partner in the results,” said Miami Beach City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez. “I’m very proud of our community efforts.”

The All-America City Award encourages and recognizes civic excellence, honoring the communities in which citizens, government, businesses and non-profit organizations demonstrate successful collaboration to improve the lives of their community’s residents. The City of Miami Beach highlighted Neighborhood Services, Truancy Intervention Program, and Planned Progress in its application.

The 30 finalists will participate in a final round of the All-America City competition June 12 through 14, 2003, in Washington, D.C. at the Hilton Washington. Representatives from each community will present to a 10-member jury their innovative programs and local solutions addressing a wide range of social and community issues, including crime, education, poverty, housing and race relations. The ten 2003 All-America Cities will be named on June 14, 2003.

The City of Miami Beach was selected as an All-America City Award finalist last year and is the only finalist City to be selected again this year. The National Civic League is a 109-year-old non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to strengthening citizen democracy by transforming democratic institutions. NCL accomplishes its mission through technical assistance, training, publishing, research, and the All-America City Award. For more information on the award, call 303-571-4343 or visit www.ncl.org.

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