The City of Santa Clara has won an All-America City award in 2001 from the National Civic League in a highly competitive program that selects 10 communities from throughout the United States for the prestigious honor.

A 54-member delegation - - representing business, government, community groups, and private citizens - - went to Atlanta in June to persuade a panel of judges that Santa Clara deserved the recognition for its achievements. Santa Clara was one of 30 cities qualifying as finalists.

To be named an All-America City, a community must demonstrate successful resolution of community issues through collaborative effort of local business, government and nonprofit organizations. In its application, Santa Clara identified as its two major current challenges the need for more affordable housing and the decision on how to reuse the large parcel of state surplus land, the former site of Agnews Hospital.

Santa Clara representatives told judges about several community programs focused on housing, such as the Intel Teacher Housing Fund partnership with the Santa Clara Unified School District, and the First-Time Homebuyers Program which is a cooperative program of the City and Cal Fed Lending. Also presented were housing assistance programs for special populations such as the Estancia apartment complex which sets aside units for low incomes households and the disabled, and the Sobrato Family Living Center operated by the Emergency Housing Consortium. The City's Redevelopment Agency provides funding in support of most of these programs, and for many other housing assistance programs as well.

Other community members in the delegation talked about the innovative way in which the City, the community and Sun Microsystems came together to develop the best use of the last remaining large parcel of land in the City. They pointed out how the corporate headquarters campus of this major international company also contains carefully restored historic buildings and open space available for public use. They also outlined the benefits of the nearby Ulistac Natural Area, and the work of volunteers in restoring this open space park for public use and enjoyment.

"Santa Clara blends the best of a modern, urban metropolis with the comfortable charm of small town, USA," the application said. "This unique combination of America past and present is evident throughout the community, from the way government serves its residents to the grassroots activities that draw thousands of citizens into active participation in community life."

Delegates from Santa Clara wore T-shirts and hats emblazoned with the theme: Santa Clara High Tech, Human Touch, HT2. The grand finale to the City's presentation -- a videotape of children from Scott Lane School singing the patriotic song "I Like It Here" - received wild applause from the audience.

Santa Clara and the other nine communities selected for a 2001 All-America City award "send a vital message of hope to the rest of the country," said Christopher Gates, President of the National Civic League. "They prove that challenges that seem insurmountable can be met with a little ingenuity and a lot of collaboration.

Santa Clara's application was submitted jointly with Sun Microsystems, the Chamber of Commerce, Santa Clara Unified School District, Intel, and Santa Clara University.

View the City of Santa Clara's 2001 All-America City Award Application (PDF).