WASHINGTON, April 29, 2015 – It’s a big day for 50 small towns in rural America. As quarterfinalists in the $10 million ‘America’s Best Communities’ competition, each community will win $50,000 to develop comprehensive revitalization plans.
The competition is spearheaded by Frontier Communications, DISH Network, CoBank and the Weather Channel. Each semifinalist community will be partnered with one of 50 big companies – such as AT&T, Campbell’s Soup, Boeing and Xerox. The companies will serve as strategic mentors to support community leaders as they build plans to revive their local economy and enhance quality of life.
Quarterfinalists: The quarterfinalist communities are as follows.
The 50 quarterfinalist communities will have six months to refine, sharpen and submit their comprehensive plans to be considered for additional investment, working with their sponsor company on improving their plans and implementation.
In early 2016, 15 semifinalists will be selected to attend the America’s Best Communities summit to present their strategies, with eight finalists awarded $100,000 to continue implementation of their plans.
In April 2017, America's Best Communities will name its three competition winners – those with the most innovative proposals being implemented effectively.
The winning community will be awarded $3 million. The second and third place communities will receive $2 million and $1 million, respectively.
In a September 2014 release announcing the competition, Maggie Wilderotter, chairman and CEO of Frontier Communications talked about the commitment the sponsoring organizations have to supporting sustained economic success in rural communities.
“This contest is designed to challenge a community’s brightest and most innovative thinkers to develop meaningful strategies and plans that will transform their town or city,” Wilderotter said.
“Whether ideas come from an individual or a group, visionaries in a community can effect powerful transformations. And the $10 million in support from Frontier and DISH is just the tip of the iceberg. As businesses join together to support their local community through the America’s Best Communities Contest, there will be a multiplier effect that will expand the size and impact of the prize. Frontier is offering qualified applicants the resources they need to be their own agents for positive change.”
See a map and list of other communities that entered the competition.
#30
For more news, go to www.agri-pulse.com.