By Jocelyn Bogen
February 1, 2010

The United States Conference of Mayors and Waste Management, Inc. launched the 2010 City Livability Awards Program January 21, which celebrates the leadership and creativity of mayors for developing and implementing programs that improve the quality of life in America's cities.

Waste Management, Inc. has partnered with the Conference of Mayors to honor mayors and their cities for the creation of outstanding programs that have a broad impact on the lives of city residents. Waste Management Chief Executive Officer David Steiner said, "The City Livability Awards are bestowed on cities that exhibit innovative ideas for bettering their communities, these innovations and successful programs are the reasons why we have been a sponsor for over two decades."

Participating cities will submit an initial application of 500 words, due March 5, which briefly describes their program and indicates when and why it was created, how it has improved the quality of life of the community, and why it is outstanding or innovative.

"For the past three decades, the City Livability Awards Program has been one of the most competitive programs sponsored by The U.S. Conference of Mayors. Each year hundreds of mayors and their city governments submit applications with a wide range of programs to compete for the honor of calling themselves a City Livability Award winner. I would like to thank Waste Management, Inc. for the two decades of support in honoring and giving national attention to mayoral innovation and leadership. And it is through this partnership that we are able to continue to salute the mayors who have developed "Best Practices" or successful programs that improve the quality of life for city residents," said Conference of Mayors President Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz.

From these initial applications, about 20 finalist cities in each of two population categories will be selected. These finalist cities will then submit a more detailed application, due April 26. An independent panel of judges will select the winners in mid-May. Award winners will be announced in June at the 78th Annual Conference of Mayors in Oklahoma City.

The 20 City Livability Awards are presented in two population categories — ten awards to cities of less than 100,000 people, and ten for cities of 100,000 or more. Every municipality in the United States is eligible to nominate one or more city government programs in any policy area, regardless of whether the municipality has applied for or received a City Livability Award in previous years. All programs initiated by the city government are eligible, including those developed and implemented in cooperation with private sector and/or community group participation.