City of Tallahassee aims for All-America City hall of fame with third victory
A delegation from the city of Tallahassee is in Denver to take part in the All-America City Competition and Event as one of 20 finalists.
This is the third time the city has been named a finalist, having gone on to win in 1999 and 2015.
The award is a recognition from the National Civic League and each year focuses on a different theme allowing cities to highlight the work they've been accomplishing in that specific area. The 2025 theme was "Strengthening Environmental Sustainability through Inclusive Community Engagement."
"I have lived in Tallahassee for 50 years, I've seen the city grow and thrive, and I'm just so glad to be a part of that ... What this competition allows is for us to demonstrate to the residents of Tallahassee and Leon County, the state of Florida, and indeed the country, all of the good things that we have happening," City Commissioner Curtis Richardson said.
This is Richardson's second time serving as a delegate for the city, having been a part of the group in 2015.
On the TalGov website, the city has dedicated space to the award nomination, such as some background of what the city submitted that officials believe reflects this year's award theme.
In their submission, city staff highlighted the community-driven initiatives in the Southside Action Plan, the expansion of the parks system to 100 parks and the Clean Energy Plan that the city commission voted on in 2019.
Richardson said the city stands out among others due to its commitment to African-American communities, as in the Southside Action Plan and ongoing projects such as the Southside Transit Center: "I can't imagine there are many, if any, other cities that have placed that kind of attention on long neglected African-American (and) minority neighborhoods."
Richardson provided some insight into what the competition weekend will look like, saying that each city will give a presentation highlighting the work they've done to a panel of judges. On top of competing, the weekend serves as a conference where delegates can mingle, hear from other cities and possibly bring back new ideas.
Alongside Richardson, local radio host Greg Tish is joining the group in Denver and serving as a delegate for the first time. He's looking forward to "just getting to interact with people that don't necessarily run in my circles but (who) have a love for the city."
Tish said it isn't just adults heading out to the mile-high city. One middle school group is tagging along for the ride.
The School of Arts and Sciences is a local middle school with a growing rock band led by Shannon Watkins. As part of showcasing Tallahassee's excellence, the young rock stars will get to take their talents to the national level.
The award winners will be announced Sunday, June 29. Richardson said he's sure that, if it wins, the city will do it up in style: "When we bring home the prize for the third time, we will plan something huge to celebrate."
Akron, Ohio
Austin, Texas
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Carrboro, North Carolina
Chelsea, Massachusetts
Delray Beach, Florida
Denver, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado
Hampton, Virginia
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Kinston, North Carolina
Leominster, Massachusetts
Memphis, Tennessee
Petaluma, California
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Seattle, Washington
Snyder, Texas
Statesboro, Georgia
Tallahasssee, Florida
Western Riverside Region, California
Arianna Otero is the trending and breaking news reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at AOtero@tallahassee.com and follow her on X: @ari_v_otero.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee leaders travel to Colorado for All-America City contest
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