Sixty cities answered the call to spotlight their efforts through the 2001 Innovation Awards competition, Investing in Communities. With a focus on collaboration, the four winning cities represented the key categories of this year's theme. Programs were judged based on the accomplishments made and the potential for other cities to replicate the effort. Representatives of the winning cities were recognized during the Congress of Cities in Atlanta, December 4-8, 2001.

Building Bridges:  A Community Process to Heal Racism
Wichita, Kansas

The city's mission with this project is to build bridges and increase respect among people from different races, cultures and religions thorough community dialogue. The dialogue process is designed to enhance mutual understanding and encourage citizens to contribute to community problem solving through action groups.

The process provides a structure for 8 to 15 community members from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds to come together to discuss challenging topics as introduced in a written curriculum developed by the Study Circles Resource Center (SCRC) entitled, "Facing the Challenge of Racism and Race Relations." Two trained facilitators of different racial or ethnic backgrounds moderate these discussions. They meet for six consecutive weeks for two hours. The conversations move through important trust-building exercises to discussions of the root causes of problems identified and ultimately to what action must be done to effectively addresses such problems.

Participants make commitments towards direct action individually and as part of a larger group.

Nearly 300 citizens have participated in dialogue groups representing over 75 organizations from business and industry, social services, educational institutions, government, law enforcement, and faith and community groups. Dialogues have been held in churches, schools, police substations, bookstores, companies and museums. Over 23 businesses and civic groups have hosted the dialogue groups.

Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment
Little Rock, Arkansas

In December 1993, Little Rock residents passed a one-half cent sales tax for public safety related programs including prevention, intervention, and treatment services following an 18-month citywide visioning process involving several hundred citizens. During the visioning exercise, it was recommended that the city fund intervention and treatment programs for young people at the same level as the police. The result was that for the first time there was a dedicated revenue source to support youth programming. Use of these tax dollars reflects the Little Rock Board of Director's commitment to prevention planning, youth development, and community solutions.

The City of Little Rock launched the Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment (PIT) Initiative. Through it, the city has invested over $15.6 million of FUTURE-Little Rock tax revenue into community-based PIT programs. Since the implementation of PIT, major crimes in Little Rock have dropped, especially among the adolescent population. Research has shown that for every $1 expended for prevention, intervention, and treatment, $7 of public funds are saved from expenses on such items as incarceration, hospitalization, lost workplace productivity, etc.

Earned Income Tax Credit Outreach Initiative
Chicago, Illinois

"If You Never Thought You Had A Rich Uncle, Think Again" This was one of the slogans the City of Chicago used to get the word out to area taxpayers about the Earned Income Tax Credit (the "EITC"). Every year, millions of taxpayers miss out on the EITC, a tax credit specifically designed for working families and individuals below a certain income level. Created by Congress in 1975 and greatly expanded since then, the EITC provides a lump-sum payment and puts real "money in the pockets" of workers with modest incomes.

The goal of Chicago's outreach campaign was to increase the number of people claiming the credit by heightening public awareness. A partnership was created that included the City, the business and foundation communities, and non-profit tax preparers to design and implement the initiative. From December to April, the outreach campaign used television, radio, print media, paycheck messages, newsletters, utility bill inserts, fliers, two websites, transit advertising, movie trailers, grocery bags, and tray liners to get the word out.

Thousands heard the message and applied for the credit, many for the first time. Millions of dollars came to Chicagoans through free volunteer tax preparation sites, with tens of millions more going to taxpayers who filed their own taxes or asked about the EITC at commercial tax preparation services.

Neighborhood Residential Permit Centers
Chicago, Illinois

Through the Permit Centers, the city seeks to create an environment that encourages eligible applicants to obtain building permits before proceeding with construction work. Permits contribute to safer more livable buildings and neighborhoods for homeowners and tenants. Use of the centers is facilitated by the neighborhood locations, free parking, late and weekend hours of operation, direct contact with necessary Plan Examiners, access to Homeowner Assistance, and a range of services which allows almost all applicants to avoid traveling to City Hall for Permit approval. It also provides a substantial reduction of time between application and issuance of Building Permits.

The City of Chicago endeavored to provide support for the rebuilding of communities by providing a user-friendly system that not only streamlines the building permit process but also educates the consumer and provides resources. Those eligible for service are owners of single-family homes and owners of two unit or three unit buildings which contain no uses other than residential.

Further help is available to owner-occupants of single-family homes through Homeowner Assistance. If an applicant needs drawings in order to apply for a Building Permit, but they cannot afford or choose not to hire an architect, the staff of the Homeowner Assistance Program can help single-family homeowners prepare their own drawings.

New Town Redevelopment Plan
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina

In 1996 the Roanoke Rapids City Council made a determined commitment to invest in housing and neighborhood revitalization in the historic mill village neighborhoods of the Roanoke Rapids community. Since that time, the city and the community have invested over $1.3 million into housing and neighborhood revitalization, and are readying plans to invest over $5 million in additional funds in the coming five years for housing revitalization, increasing affordable home ownership opportunities, and neighborhood resource development.

Roanoke Rapids was formed in the late 1800s and grew into one of the largest mill towns in North Carolina. As with many Southern mill towns, the mill owners supplied housing, utilities, and health care. Generally, housing issues such as affordability and home ownership were taken care of by role the mills played. However, beginning in the 1960s things began to change with the textile industry, and over time housing issues such as deterioration, ownership, and affordability became a predominant concern in the community. Despite the economic distress, in 1996 the city decided to commit and invest in housing and neighborhoods.