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__C_C_0Er <br />Centralina Council ofGovernments <br />2014 <br />EXCELLENCE <br />AWARD <br />WINNERS <br />Controlling the Cost <br />of Government <br />Cabarrus County <br />Collaborative <br />Technology Services <br />Initiative With Local <br />Education Agencies <br />Growing the <br />Economy <br />Town of Davidson <br />"PIES" Project <br />Improving <br />Quality of Life <br />Town of Huntersville <br />91 S.O.U.LS." Program <br />Improving <br />Quality of Life <br />Town of Matthews <br />Sewer Pipe Art <br />Initiative <br />Clean Cities <br />City of Charlotte <br />Solid Waste Services <br />Natural Gas Use in <br />Fleet Refuse Trucks <br />BACKGROUND <br />Centralina COG celebrates the work <br />of local governments in our region <br />through the Excellence Awards. These <br />awards honor the outstanding achieve- <br />ments that work collectively to achieve <br />regional goals. <br />Elected officials, managers and other <br />staff from our local governments were <br />encouraged to nominate innovative pro- <br />jects implemented by their jurisdictions <br />that contribute to significant and positive <br />advancements in the community. <br />A panel of impartial judges reviewed <br />each submittal and selected award win- <br />ning projects based on the following <br />award criteria: <br />• Innovation and creativity <br />• Commitment to goals <br />• Contributions to regionalism <br />• Program successes and sustainable <br />benefits <br />• Engagement of community members <br />• Interaction with public/private partners <br />Our judges this year included: George <br />Arena, former Lincoln County Commis- <br />sioner and Bill Duston, former CCOG <br />Planning Director. A separate committee <br />reviewed and selected the winner of the <br />Clean Cities Award. Please read page 4 of <br />this brochure for more details on our <br />judges. <br />EXCELLENCE AWARD CATEGORIES <br />"Controlling the Cost of Government" <br />The recipient of this award has been creative in implementing a new or innovative pro- <br />gram or initiative that is effective and delivers the most value with public funds. Such <br />program exemplifies efficiency through: utilizing economies of scale; partnering with <br />other local governments to maximize the impact of public funds; and /or encouraging <br />best practices to maintain or expand services. <br />"Growing the Economy" <br />The recipient of this award has implemented innovative solutions to community devel- <br />opment/investment challenges and engages in best practice strategies that: utilize pub- <br />lic /private sector partnerships to maximize investment opportunities; prepares existing <br />sites and infrastructure to meet the needs of target industries; and /or implements eco- <br />nomic development including job creation /retention initiatives, etc. <br />"Improving Quality of Life" <br />The recipient of this award best leverages resources to improve the quality of life for <br />citizens. The award recipient has implemented innovative program offerings such as <br />those that enhance social equity; encourage community participation through public <br />and private sector leadership; develop solutions that build on the community's <br />strengths and improve upon its weaknesses; or use cooperative volunteerism to main- <br />tain or expand services. <br />"Clean Cities" <br />The recipient of this award best recognizes the environmental and economic benefits <br />of reducing consumption of fossil fuels. This recipient has lowered the use of traditional <br />transportation fuels by: purchasing alternative fuel and /or fuel efficient vehicles, using <br />alternative fuels in their fleet, implementing idle reduction policies and /or has partnered <br />with fuel providers to expand alternative fuel availability. <br />C -3 Page 67 <br />