Association of Central Oklahoma Government Receives National Association of Development Organizations 2022 Impact Award

WASHINGTON, DC – The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) based in Oklahoma City, Okla., has received a 2022 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the Community Economic Resiliency Initiative (CERI) Program.

 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ACOG created the CERI Program, which was funded by the EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance Grant, to offer municipal governments the opportunity to develop planning demonstration (demo) site projects that would model strategic community and economic investment with a focus on Placemaking and Cultural Heritage Tourism. ACOG partnered with the Oklahoma Main Street Center (OMSC) and the University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) to provide planning consultant services to each of the selected applicant cities for the demo sites:

• City of El Reno – Sunset Drive/Route 66 Corridor Study
• City of Guthrie – The Elbow Recreational and Cultural Area Plan
• The City of Harrah – Sweeney Switch – Downtown Plan

The selected Cities of El Reno, Guthrie, and Harrah were given a professionally developed road map that outlined the community’s vision and final recommendations garnered from their citizens. These recommendations were supported by community outreach, professional development and historical research, and suggested future grant funding opportunities that prepared these cities for the implementation phase. Other significant accomplishments included:

1. Updated city planning techniques and best practices shared with each community
2. Economic development and transportation safety research conducted on behalf of selected cities
3. Urban design, streetscape, and development strategies created for each municipality

NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies.  The Impact Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and their partners for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation’s regions and local communities. 

Award-winning projects were recognized during NADO’s 2022 Annual Training Conference, held in Pittsburgh, PA on October 15-18.  The 2022 class of award recipients consists of 107 projects from 71 organizations spanning 28 states.  These projects are presented in an interactive “Story Map” developed by NADO that includes project summaries, partners, and images.  The Story Map is available online at:  https://tinyurl.com/38vbcczu   

“Regional development organizations and their partners have played an integral role in supporting local communities during this important time of economic recovery,” said 2021-2022 NADO President Misty Crosby, former executive director of the Buckeye Hills Regional Council, located in Marietta, OH.  “This year’s Impact Awards recipients demonstrate the many ways our member organizations serve their communities by promoting economic development, fostering resilience, and improving quality of life for residents.”

The NADO Impact Awards are presented in honor of the late Aliceann Wohlbruck who was NADO’s first executive director and served 24 years as a tireless champion for regional approaches to economic development in rural communities.