Neighborhoods USA Awards Program
NUSA recognizes the work being done in neighborhoods across the United States with a variety of award categories: Neighborhood of the Year, Best Neighborhood Program, Neighborhood Newsletter Competition, & Who’s Who in America’s Neighborhoods.
All applications MUST postmarked by
February 10th, 2025 and mailed to:
NUSA Awards Committee
Attention: Precious McKesson
6716 Nebraska Ave Omaha, NE 68104
All Neighborhood award finalists will be notified by
March 15, 2025 and invited to the judging session of the 2025 Neighborhoods, USA Conference, May 20 – 23, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida.
Costs associated with taking part in the conference and making a presentation are the sole responsibility of each finalist organization.
Neighborhood of the Year
The Neighborhood of the Year Award recognizes exceptional accomplishments by neighborhood organizations. Awards are given in three categories:
Physical Revitalization/ Beautification in a Single Neighborhood
Projects that focus on physical aspects of improving your neighborhood such as parks, lighting, litter control, traffic management, housing improvements, green spaces, and business district enhancements.
Social Revitalization/ Neighborliness in a Single Neighborhood
Projects focusing on the social or cultural aspects of a neighborhood like safety, youth and/or senior programs, and activities that make neighbors feel connected and foster neighbors working together like an ice cream social, holiday celebration or festival.
Multi-Neighborhood Project Partnerships
Projects that are jointly produced by at least two neighborhoods or community organizations in a partnership effort, addressing either physical or social concerns.
Each award application will be evaluated by a panel of judges using the following criteria:
- Self Help/Financial Capability (0-20 pts) – The extent of self-help is evident with minimal reliance on outside funding sources; the budget was well documented and realistic.
- Grassroots Involvement (0-20 pts) – The project/activity included significant neighborhood and/or business involvement and cooperation; diversity of participants.
- Innovativeness (0-10 pts) – The project/activity was a creative and unique way to address the neighborhood(s) issue.
- Community Benefit (0-10 pts) – The project/activity benefited the neighborhood as a whole and addressed a need; it improved the health, safety and/or appearance of the neighborhood.
- Sustainability (0-10 pts) – The project/activity illustrated opportunities for self-sufficiency; project/activity included a low maintenance design and an ongoing maintenance plan.
- Leadership Development (0-10 pts) – The project/activity provided opportunities for volunteers to take on leadership roles and develop new skills.
- Partnership Building (0-10 pts) – The project/activity created partnerships with public and/or private entities; and/or with other neighborhoods and community-based groups.
- Volunteerism (0-5 pts) – The extent of volunteer contributions to the project.
- Replicable (0-5 pts) – The potential for the project/activity to be replicated in other neighborhoods.
Best Neighborhood Program
The Best Neighborhood Program (BNP) award recognizes the outstanding work of governmental entities, businesses or corporations in the United States who work to improve the quality of life in their communities and neighborhoods.
If your organization completed a neighborhood improvement project or activity in 2020, you are invited to enter the Best Neighborhood Program Award competition and bring national attention to the program that made your community a better place to live.
Best Neighborhood Program awards are given in two categories Physical Revitalization/Beautification.
Best Neighborhood Program award applications will be evaluated by a panel of judges to determine finalists.
Physical Revitalization/ Beautification
Programs that focus on physical aspects of improving yourneighborhood such as parks, lighting, litter control, traffic management, housing improvements, green
spaces and business district enhancements.
Social Revitalization/ Neighborliness
Programs focusing on the social or cultural aspects of a neighborhood like safety, youth and/or senior programs, activities that make neighbors feel connected and foster neighbors working together on programs like an ice cream social, holiday celebration or festival.
Neighborhood Newsletter Competition
Community newsletters are an effective communication tool to share news about your city, community and neighborhood. A well-designed newsletter can spark an interest in neighborhood involvement, increase
neighborhood association membership and spur volunteerism.
The Neighborhood Newsletter Competition rewards excellence in community newsletters and is given in two (2) categories/ subcategories:
- Print Format Newsletters
- Electronic Format Newsletters
Neighborhood Newsletter award entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges. A first, second and third place award will be given in each category/subcategory.
Each Neighborhood Newsletter Competition application received will be evaluated by a panel of judges on the following five (5) criteria:
1. Branding (0-10 pts)
2. Aesthetics & Design (0-20 pts)
3. Technical Layout (0-20 pts)
4. Content-Informational (0-25 pts)
5. Content-Outreach & Involvement (0-25 points)
Who’s Who in America’s Neighborhoods
The Who’s Who in America’s Neighborhoods award was created to recognize those individuals whose work mirrors the mission of Neighborhoods, USA: to build and strengthen neighborhoods associations; to encourage neighborhood involvement in the decision-making process in local governments; and to promote productive communications and collaborations between neighborhood associations, local governments and the public/private sector.
Each Who’s Who in America’s Neighborhoods (WWAN) nominee will be evaluated by the Neighborhoods, USA Board of Directors using the following criteria: the neighborhood involvement of nominee,
information on how the nominee has proven to be a leader in the community and specific reasons why the nominee has earned the Who’s Who in America’s Neighborhoods recognition.
There are two (2) categories for this award:
- Governmental Nominee – Includes elected officials, local or state government staff and paid neighborhood advocates and/or community leaders.
- Grassroots/Neighbor Nominee – Includes non-paid neighborhood advocates and/or community leaders.