Grand Island is a finalist for the All-American City Award. (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – The city of Grand Island has been named one of 20 finalists for the National Civic League’s All-American City Award.
The announcement has been made on the National Civic League’s website. Winners will be announced on June 28, and 10 cities will be selected, according to the website. Grand Island is the only Nebraska city on the list.
Grand Island has previously won the award in 1955, 1967, 1981, and 1982, according to the website.
According to the website: “As the nation marks 250 years since its founding, the 2026 All-America City Award is recognizing communities that are bringing the ideal of a government of, by, and for the people to life. This year’s AAC finalists are being recognized for their efforts to strengthen civic health and build trust. Finalists were selected through a rigorous application process, with an external review committee carefully assessing each community across six criteria.”
The other finalists, listed alphabetically by town, are: Bowling Green-Warren County, Kentucky; Chelsea, Massachusetts; Conway, South Carolina; Franklin, Tennessee; Harlingen, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama; Jenks, Oklahoma; Monrovia, California; Montgomery, Alabama; Morrisville, North Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; North Charleston, South Carolina; Opa-locka, Florida; River Forest, Illinois; Riviera Beach, Florida; Roanoke, Virginia; Stow, Ohio; Wichita, Kansas; and Woodburn, Oregon.
Finalists will now prepare for the next stage of the competition—the All-America City Award Event in Denver this June—where they will bring their written applications to life in the form of ten-minute presentations, showcasing the impact of their civic health efforts.
The award celebrates and recognizes neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, counties, tribes and regions that engage residents in innovative, inclusive and effective efforts to tackle critical challenges.
“This year’s All-America City finalists remind us that the strength of democracy depends on engaged residents who are invested in shaping the future of the places they call home. As the nation marks 250 years since its founding, these communities are proving that civic health is improved block by block, through trust, belonging, and the collective power of people working together,” said the National Civic League’s President, Doug Linkhart.
The 2026 award theme is: “America at 250- Strengthening Civic Health and Building Trust.”
” As the nation marks 250 years since its founding, we reflect on the ongoing journey to fulfill the promise of a government by, for, and of the people. The 2026 All-America City Award will recognize communities that are bringing these founding ideals to life by ensuring that the power to shape the future resides with the people. The award will spotlight communities across the country that are creatively engaging residents in collective efforts to create thriving and welcoming places where trust and belonging are abundant,” the National Civic League website said.
The application process has two phases. A city first submits a written application. The second phase is an in-person presentation.
“During the event, finalist teams connect and share insights with peers, learn from national thought-leaders, and present the story of their work to a jury of nationally recognized civic leaders. After careful deliberation, the jury selects ten winning communities, which are announced during the event’s closing ceremony,” the website said.
The National Civic League’s All-America City Award has celebrated the best in American civic innovation since 1949.
