Fort Smith not named All-American City winner (Updated)
by June 19, 2009 7:49 pm 47 views
Despite having three great stories to tell, Fort Smith did not capture one of the 10 spots in the All-American City contest — a double night for whammies following the Razorbacks loss at the NCAA College Baseball World Series in Omaha.
Fort Smith was named in late March as a finalist in the 2009 All-America City Award program sponsored by the National Civic League — beating out hundreds of applicants just to reach the finalist station.
The 32 finalist cities competed Thursday and Friday (June 18-19) in Tampa for the 10 awards given by the NCL. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the All-American City award program. Of the 32 cities selected, two cities have dropped out. Of those competing, 10 were to be chosen.
Winchell, an economic development staffer with the city of Fort Smith, worked with city staff to apply for the award. The application focused on how the region came together to keep the 188th Fighter Wing based in Fort Smith, successfully recruit the U.S. Marshals Museum, and support the Community Clearinghouse, Winchell explained.
About $11,000 was raised from private sources to fund the travel to Tampa and other expenses. Sponsors include Arkansas Best Corp., Fort Smith Advertising & Promotion Commission, Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturing Executives Association and Kraft-Planters.
The communities named as All-American Cities were:
Phoenix, Ariz.
Inglewood, Calif.
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Richmond, Ind.
Wichita, Kan.
Sommerville, Mass.
Albany, N.Y.
Kinston, N.C.
Statesville, N.C.
Caroline County, Va.
According to the NCL, an All-America City has “a proven capacity for community-based problem solving, grassroots civic engagement and cooperation between sectors (public, private and nonprofit).”