The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) on Thursday honored the City of Wichita and Bank of America with the Public-Private Partnership Award of Excellence, for the 21st Street and Opportunity Drive Project.

The brainchild of Wichita businessman Russ Meyer, the 21st Street project rests in a low-income area, a tree-lined complex featuring three new facilities - a Boys & Girls Club, a pre-kindergarten facility and a kindergarten through eighth grade International Baccalaureate (IB) program scheduled to open this fall.

USCM officials announced the partnership as one of two excellence award winners on Thursday at their 76th Winter Meeting in Washington D.C. The USCM release is attached.

Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer and Robert Allison, Kansas President for Bank of America, were in attendance to receive the award, which was established to encourage cities and businesses to work together to improve local communities.

“This award and national recognition reinforces the value of community partnerships and what we can accomplish when we work together,” said Mayor Brewer, who thanked Bank of America. Bank of America’s status as a member of the USCM Business Council helped make the City eligible for the excellence-in-partnership award.

“This is an exciting honor to receive along with the City of Wichita,” said Allison. “At Bank of America, we strive to look for opportunities to strengthen the communities we serve. The 21st Street project is truly an example of what can be accomplished when we collectively come together to better our neighborhoods, helping all families achieve their dreams.”

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,139 such U.S. cities; each represented in the conference by its chief elected official or Mayor.

Following is additional information regarding the 21st Street and Opportunity Drive Project and its public-private partnerships.

The 21st Street and Opportunity Drive Project

The $30 million 21st Street and Opportunity Drive Project is a three-campus education and recreation complex. It is surrounded by more than 11,000 children under the age of 18, many of whom live with single parents, in poverty and surrounded by crime. Achievement test scores and graduation rates are relatively low.

The project transformed deserted property into a tree-lined community-gathering place.

The complex features:

1. The Opportunity Project (TOPS) pre-K Learning Center;

2. The Boys & Girls Club of South Central Kansas, a 45,000 square-foot facility, with a football field and soccer fields; and

3. The Gordon Parks Academy School, an International Baccalaureate (IB) school that will provide a learning environment for K-through-eighth-grade students from the area and across the city this fall.

Meyer, the Chairman Emeritus of Cessna Aircraft Company, led what became a community-wide collaboration. Partners included Sedgwick County, USD 259, Wichita State University, Bank of America, Cessna Aircraft Company, The Wichita Eagle, The Downing Family, Kansas Health Foundation, Intrust Bank, Commerce Bank, Cox Communications, Fahnestock Heating and Air Conditioning, Fourth Financial, Westar Energy, Raytheon Aircraft Company, Capital Enterprises, Insurance Management Associates and a host of community volunteers.

The City of Wichita owned the property and provided infrastructure improvements including streets, lighting and water and utility connections. Sedgwick County expanded its financial support to the Boys & Girls Club. USD 259 is building the new IB school. Wichita State University expanded its mentoring programs for the Boys & Girls Club.

In the summer of 2007, President Bush toured the complex, recognizing it as model public-private partnership.

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