Gov. Rendell this week praised local government officials and community stakeholders during the 11th annual Governor's Award for Local Government Excellence for taking action to improve their municipalities.

"Over the past four years, we've made strategic investments in towns and cities across Pennsylvania that are sparking revitalization and economic development projects today," said Gov. Rendell. "We've turned Pennsylvania's economy around and created countless new opportunities for our citizens. Our state's municipalities played a vital role in this resurgence and they will continue to do so.

Awards were presented to local government entities in eight categories, including building community partnerships, promoting community and economic revitalization, innovative community and governmental initiatives, innovative planning and sound land use practices, responding to adversity, fiscal accountability and best management practices, innovative technology, and intergovernmental cooperation.

Among the awardees were:

Innovative Planning and Sound Land Use Practice: Philadelphia, Yeadon Borough, Upper Darby Township, East Lansdowne Borough, Clifton Heights Borough (Philadelphia and Delaware counties).

Five Delaware County municipalities and the City of Philadelphia, supported by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Delaware County and the William Penn Foundation, have created the Baltimore Avenue Corridor Revitalization Plan to redevelop their communities. The plan focuses on transportation resources, dense mixed use residential and retail development, and open space to make an enormous positive impact in each of the participating communities. The success of this project serves as a model for similar planning along other urban ncorridors.

Individual Award: Anthony Russo, Jr. serves as the executive director of the Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority, one of the largest authorities in Pennsylvania. He has also served on the authority's Board of Directors for 12 years and as the president of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association. He has devoted 26 years in public and private service in the communities he serves and has been involved in local government activities at all levels.

A complete list of award winners is available online.

4/20/2007