The Home Depot Foundation Announces 2010 Awards of Excellence for Sustainable Community Development

DENVER, Dec. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Home Depot Foundation announced the recipients of the 2010 Awards of Excellence for Sustainable Community Development.  The awards recognize cities with successful development and implementation of sustainability plans, including cultivating public-private partnerships, multi-faceted data collection and integrated feedback, resulting in a more sustainable community.  

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The winning cities are Tacoma, WA, and Burlington, VT.  In partnership with the Tacoma Housing Authority, Tacoma redeveloped 855 housing units creating a compact, livable, green neighborhood close to transportation.  In partnership with the Champlain Housing Trust, Burlington created the Burlington Cohousing East Village, a sustainable and affordable housing development which includes 32 cohousing units, a community garden and shared access to transportation.

Boston was chosen as a runner-up (in partnership with the Mass Energy for Renew Boston Energy Efficiency Pilot Program).

The award was presented today during a general session at the National League of Cities' (NLC) Congress of Cities conference in Denver, Colo. The Home Depot Foundation is an NLC Sustainability Partner.  NLC and The Home Depot Foundation work together with cities across the country to support sustainable initiatives and networks, provide access to best practices and reward demonstrated excellence.

"Cities around the country are feeling the profound impacts of the current economic downturn. As a result, many are finding innovative and successful ways to save money by implementing sustainable practices into their policies and operations," said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation. "We hope that by working with NLC and identifying, recognizing and showcasing these success stories through our Awards of Excellence will offer insight, inspiration and a roadmap for other cities to follow as they face the economic challenges that still lie ahead."  

"These cities are excellent examples of innovation in sustainable development," said Ronald O. Loveridge, Mayor, Riverside, Calif., and NLC President. "As part of our work with the Home Depot Foundation, we are committed to helping all communities become more sustainable and livable.  These communities provide new ideas and thinking that we hope will be replicated across the country."

Created in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation supports nonprofit organizations dedicated to creating and preserving healthy, affordable homes as the cornerstone of sustainable communities.  The Foundation's goal is for all families to have the opportunity to live in healthy, efficient homes they can afford over the long-term; to have access to safe, vibrant parks and greenspaces; and to receive the economic, social and environmental benefits of living in a sustainable community. Since its formation, The Home Depot Foundation has granted $190 million to nonprofit organizations and supported the development of more than 95,000 homes, planted more than 1.2 million trees, and built or refurbished more than 1,875 playgrounds, parks and greenspaces. For more information, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org and follow us on Twitter homedepotfdn.

The National League of Cities is the nation's oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.  

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SOURCE National League of Cities