The All-America City Steering Team continues to keep the All-American spirit alive and visible in the Tri-Cities TN/VA region. The team has developed various materials for the purpose of marketing our region and our All-America City designation locally, nationally and internationally. The team maintains contact with the National Civic League, sharing our progress and learnings with other communities throughout the country. The team promotes the principles and philosophy of inclusive, broad-based citizen involvement in all areas of the region; support and recognition for collaborative efforts is also ongoing. The team is currently working to develop a "civic empowerment" awards process which can identify and recognize grassroots, collaborative projects throughout our region which are achieving tangible results and improving the the quality of life for us all. Currently headed by Paul Montgomery of Eastman Chemical Company, the All-America City Steering Team is working to support and encourage participation in the Regional Vision 2025 process. Members attend the annual All-America City Awards to learn from communities nominated for the award, and to renew our contacts with people across the country involved in community improvement initiatives. The team also coordinates annual events which bring people together to celebrate sucesses and plan for future initiatives.

In February 2000, the Tri-Cities TN/VA All-America City 5-Star Regional Showcase took place at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon. This event featured workshops covering topics from culture to economic development, and it also highlighted the past achievements of our region and served as a process to move forward with new ideas. Top All-America City officials, including Chris Gates, were in attendance at the Showcase. To see excerpts of their presentations, click the "Video Showcase" icon to the left. Beyond serving as a learning experience for attendees, the Showcase was fun. It featured the All-America City Bluegrass Band singing the official song of Tri-Cities, "Strength In Numbers." Entertainment also included renowned storyteller David Joe Miller, and the day was completed with an excellent performance by Genesis Ensemble, a highly talented youth choir. In June, several of the Tri-Cities TN/VA All-America City Partnership and Steering Team members were invited to Louisville, KY, for the 2000 All-America City Awards Competition. They hosted an informational session explaining the logistics of applying for the All-America City award as a region and what Tri-Cities TN/VA has done to continue the momentum of All-America City status since winning the award. They also addressed the new winners of the award on June 3 to offer ideas and suggestions for marketing their designation. On April 6, 2001, a regional event was held at Tusculum College in Greeneville, TN. This event served as a kickoff for the Regional Vision 2025 project, and involved governmental leaders, volunteers and staff of non-profit agencies, and citizens from business, education and community to offer their ideas for a stronger region.

Special Thanks to Our 5-Star Sponsors
Bristol Herald Courier/WJHL NewsChannel 11 - City of Johnson City
City of Kingsport - County of Washington, VA
East Tennessee State University - Eastman Chemical Company
Forwardair/Landair Corporation - Mountain States Health Alliance
Tusculum College
Wellmont Health System

Contact Us
Beulah Ferguson, Tri-Cities TN/VA Regional Partnership
207 N. Boone St., Suite 800 - Johnson City, TN 37604
Phone: - Fax:
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