The National Civic League is now accepting applications for the 2025 All-America City Award. The theme for 2025 is “Strengthening Environmental Sustainability through Inclusive Community Engagement.” The League is seeking communities that actively engage residents, businesses, and government stakeholders in initiatives to promote environmental sustainability and strengthen community resilience.
Apply to join the nine communities from Maryland that have won the All-America City Award! You can view the full list of past recipients here.
Communities interested in applying for the 2025 All-America City Award should submit a letter of intent to apply by December 30, which saves applicants $100 on the application fee. Please note that a letter of intent is not required to apply.
The full application can be downloaded at (https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/america-city-award/how-to-apply/) and is due February 27, 2025. Twenty finalists will be named in March of 2025 and will be invited to attend the All-America City Award event in Denver, Colorado in June, during which the ten eventual winners will be selected and announced.
2025 Theme and Criteria:
Climate change presents imminent and complex dangers to local communities, demonstrated in part by rising temperatures, intensified extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and ecological disturbances. Urgent and equitable action is imperative to shield vulnerable populations and cultivate resilient communities capable of withstanding and thriving in the face of environmental, economic, and social impacts. Particularly, low-income, under-resourced, high-density, and communities of color will bear the brunt of these impacts due to limited resources and historical disinvestment.
AAC applicants will need to demonstrate a steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability through meaningful community engagement initiatives. Whether through conservation projects, renewable energy initiatives, waste reduction efforts, or green infrastructure developments, applicants should exemplify the spirit of collaboration and civic responsibility necessary to meet the moment.
The 2025 All-America City application will ask applicants to discuss the strength of their civic capital—the formal and informal relationships, networks and capacities they use to make decisions and solve problems—and to provide examples of three community-driven programs that have adapted and transformed the community. At least one of these efforts must be focused on the 2025 theme – Strengthening Environmental Sustainability through Inclusive Community Engagement.
