By Jocelyn Bogen
February 2, 2009

The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Waste Management launched the 2009 City Livability Awards Program January 19, which celebrates the 30th Anniversary of these prestigious awards with the mailing of the application and guidelines to mayors of cities of 30,000 or more.

A special five-minute commemorative video was shown during the 77th Winter Meeting that featured past winners who discussed what winning the award has meant to their staffs and cities. Waste Management has partnered with USCM to honor mayors and their cities for outstanding programs that contribute to the quality of life of their citizens. "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 two decades," Waste Management Chief Executive Officer David Steiner said.

Conference of Mayors President Miami Mayor Manny Diaz stated, "For the past 30 years, 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 for the 20 years of support in honoring and giving national attention to mayoral excellence. Cities are the economic, cultural and social engines of America. And it is through this partnership that we are able to continue to salute the mayors who have developed innovative and successful programs that improve the quality of life for city residents!"

Participating cities will submit an initial application of 500 words, due March 13, 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.

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 24. An independent panel of judges will select the winners in mid-May. Award winners will be announced in June at the 77th Annual Conference of Mayors in Providence.

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.