ENTRY GUIDELINES

The awards program showcases county and city/town program/project oriented work and elected officials, who have taken actions that demonstrate a significant commitment to achieving the regional planning goal of “complete communities.” The awards single out counties and cities and towns that meet the day-to-day needs of residents and promote conservation efforts that protect vital natural, scenic, and agricultural resource areas. There is also a distinguished leadership category which honors an elected official. Individual local governments or groups of jurisdictions working in partnership may submit nominations for the regional Growing Smarter Together Awards.

Submittals are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 17, 2012.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

• Strengthen and support existing communities
• Create compact, healthy communities with a diversity of housing, jobs, activities, and services to meet the daily needs of residents
• Increase housing choices
• Improve housing affordability
• Increase transportation efficiency and choices
• Protect and steward natural habitat, open space, and agricultural land
• Improve social and economic equity
• Promote economic and fiscal health
• Conserve resources, promote sustainability, and improve economic quality
• Protect public health and safety.

Leah Zippert, Communications Officer 510-464-7995
Kathleen Cha, Senior Communications Officer 510-464-7922
Halimah Anderson, Communications Officer 510-464-7986
Patricia Jones, Assistant Executive Director 510-464-7933

AWARD CATEGORIES

1. Distinguished Leadership Award – Elected Official
   For a significant contribution to the implementation of the FOCUS goals by an individual elected to public office or recognition of an elected official for individual achievement as it relates to FOCUS goals and/or committee leadership activities.
   
   
2. Start It Up Award
   For any policy, action, or regulation, that removes barriers to, or provides incentives for the implementation of the regional vision and FOCUS goals. Applicants should submit the text of the policy or regulation with their entry. The policy or regulation must currently be in effect to be eligible.
   
   
3. On the Ground – Getting It Done Award: FOCUSed Growth
   This category recognizes city, county or town plan implementation that reflects the FOCUS goals within areas designated as Priority Development Areas as adopted by the ABAG Executive Board. Eligible activities may include successful implementation of neighborhood or specific plans or detailed general plans that encompass a mix of uses including multi-family housing and/or retail, office, or resident-serving amenities in infill, and/or transit-oriented locations.
   
   Applicants are encouraged to send photos, brochures, and other materials describing the projects. If submitting information related to housing development, the description must include the number of units, affordability levels and numbers of units, funding sources, etc.
   
   
4. Preserving and Protecting the Environment Award
   For any program, policy action/regulation or plan that works to preserve and protect natural habitat, water and air resources, agricultural lands, or other types of regionally significant open space. This could include, but is not limited to, integrating environmental benefits into an overall development plan or project.
   
   
5. Public-Private Partnership Award
   This category recognizes collaborative efforts between government and private or non-profit organizations that support the implementation of FOCUS goals in the Bay Area in terms of projects or plans. Nominations will only be accepted from local jurisdictions, i.e., counties, cities/towns.
   
   
6. Sharing the Benefits Award
   This category recognizes the innovations jurisdictions have used to avoid displacement or other adverse impacts, while promoting community revitalization. This award will showcase the good ideas/ best practices promoting social equity and environmental justice in the Bay Area.
   
   
7. Building a Better Bay Area - Urban Design Award This award highlights examples of innovative architecture. This encompasses all aspects of the built environment such as a building, park, plaza, or streetscape that enhances the vitality of a community. This category showcases projects that demonstrate outstanding design quality surmounting the challenges of infill development including land constraints, affordability, and integration within an existing neighborhood. To qualify, the project must be completed. Projects still in planning phase are not eligible.

DEADLINE

NOMINATION AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Project or policy title or Nominee name
2. Summary description of nomination, not to exceed 150 words.
3. Contact information for nominator (Name, address, phone, email). This person will be asked to work with ABAG staff to possibly develop display materials and video for the awards presentation, if the submittal is selected for recognition.
4. Describe the project or policy or individual achievement. Include significance to the community and the region. This section should also address how the nomination advances the implementation of the FOCUS goals as outlined in the Evaluation Criteria. This section should not exceed 1500 words.
5. Include up to three letters of recommendation; each letter must identify the nominee, project, or policy. These letters must be included as part of the submittal and are due February 17th.
6. Supplemental materials may include photographs, plans, marketing materials, press releases, media coverage or any other information that may assist the jury in selecting award winners.
7. Each page of the nomination must be numbered and identified with the project or nominee name.
8. Five copies of all materials must be submitted by February 17th.

SELECTION COMMITTEE

1. Is this nominee/project/policy/program clearly described?
2. Does description of the nominee/project/policy/program include significance to the community and the region?
3. Do the supplemental materials support the personal/project description?
4. Do the letters of recommendation support the nomination?
5. Does the nominee/project/policy/program move the regional Vision toward implementation? And are the categories delineated in the application.
6. Does the nominee/project serves as a good example/best practice for the Bay Area? Does the nomination include applicable factors such as design quality, transit oriented development, integration with the surrounding community, environmental benefits, and project impact?

AWARD PRESENTATION

Leah Zippert, Communications Officer 510-464-7995
Kathleen Cha, Senior Communications Officer 510-464-7922
Halimah Anderson, Communications Officer 510-464-7986
Patricia Jones, Assistant Executive Director 510-464-7933

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Will the limited supplemental materials be returned?
   These materials will be returned if requested at the time of submittal. One copy will be retained by ABAG.
   
   
2. How long do the policies, actions or regulations have to be in effect to qualify for the Start It Up Award?
   The policies, actions or regulations must have been in effect for at least one year.
   
   
3. When and where are nominations due?
   Entries must be received at ABAG's offices no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, February 17, 2012, to be eligible for the 2012 Awards. Entries may be mailed to P.O. Box 2050, Oakland, CA 94604-2050; or hand delivered/overnight delivery to 101 Eighth Street, Oakland, CA 94607.
   
   
4. Who is eligible to submit for the Growing Smarter Together Awards?
   All ABAG member cities/towns and counties, and elected officials from ABAG member cities/towns and counties are eligible to enter the Growing Smarter Together Awards.