Finalists

Congratulations to the eight finalists in our Strong Communities: Engaging Citizens, Strengthening Place, Inspiring Change competition!

 

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED FOR THE STRONG COMMUNITIES COMPETITION. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WINNERS, PLEASE VISIT OUR COMPETITION HOMEPAGE.

An independent panel of judges reviewed the semi-finalists and selected these eight projects to join us at CommunityMatters '10, where they'll have an opportunity to showcase their work, meet other innovators, and develop community building skills.

These programs and projects span a variety of fields including youth engagement, local economy, economic development, public engagement and networking, proactive collaboration, environmental sustainability, and community living.

Winners will be selected by YOU via online public voting, so take a look at the finalists, get your clicking fingers ready and VOTE NOW!

Competition news and information:
Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project

This Louisiana project is an innovative youth-led social enterprise designed to collect and recycle New Orleans’ used cooking oil into environmentally-friendly biodiesel fuel as a means of educating and developing leadership, environmental stewardship, and social entrepreneurship of young people for the “Green Collar” workforce.

LanX: A Local Securities Exchange Project

In south central Pennsylvania, this regional exchange model provides ultra micro-cap financing to small businesses, thus rejuvenating local communities by providing more financing options and shrinking the equity gap that currently hampers the development of small and medium size firms.

Network Organizing

The Making Connections Network in Louisville, Kentucky is using principles of social network formation to organize citizens, improve quality of life for children and families and transform the systems and policies that affect families.

Pueblo County Economic Gardening

In Pueblo, Colorado, Economic Gardening is an entrepeneur-centered economic growth strategy, focused on using GIS and other tools to help small businesses find the right location and the right customer base to succeed.

Rise & Shine Food Co-op

This teen-inspired, teen-managed nonprofit business in Florida addresses food insecurity by providing families with high-quality, low-cost fresh food twice a month while providing teens with valuable “real life” work experience and skills that will help them successfully transition into adulthood.

Sustain-A-Raisers: Re-imagining "Barn Raising" for Sustainable Home and Yard Retrofits

Sustain-a-Raisers (inspired by barn-raising) are teams of youth in New Hampshire's Lakes Region that provide sustainable home and yard retrofits, promoting resource conservation and self-sufficiency and teaching teens valuable green collar job skills.

Sustainable Jersey

Sustainable Jersey is a certification program for municipalities in New Jersey that want to go green, save money, and sustain their quality of life. It provides tools, training and financial incentives to support and reward communities as they pursue sustainability programs.

The Transformative Power of Intergenerational Community Living

In Illinois, this project enhances the lives of vulnerable popluations and addresses major community issues by tapping into the energy and life experience of elder residents.

A hearty thanks to our judges, and congratulations once again to our semi-finalists and early entry winner.