The Green River Area Development District is accepting nominations for the 2024 Community of the Year and Regional Excellence Awards.
Established in 2008, the GRADD Community of the Year Award honors a city or county that has initiated significant efforts to improve the quality of life for its residents. Past winners include Beaver Dam for its Amphitheater project, Ohio County for its park improvements project, and the City of Henderson for its Inner-City Improvement Plan.
Since 2002, GRADD has honored three individuals each year with Regional Excellence Awards:
- The Charles Reid Regional Citizenship Award is presented to a citizen from the public or private sector who has played a major role in regional development efforts. The award is named in honor of Charles Reid, a longtime resident of McLean County and the founder of Independence Bank. Reid led a life of service and served on the boards of several civic and philanthropic organizations, including the GRADD Board of Directors.
- The Texal Brooks Regional Leadership Award is presented to a current or former GRADD Board or committee member who has demonstrated outstanding regional leadership. Brooks was a Webster County resident who led efforts to establish the Webster County Water District in 1965 to ensure Webster County residents had access to clean water. Brooks was a founding member of GRADD and served as the third Board of Directors Chairman.
- The Wendell Ford Legislative Leadership Award is presented to a local, state, or national elected official who has dedicated his/her life to working with legislative issues and services for our region’s citizens. The award is named in honor of former U.S. Senator and Kentucky Governor Wendell H. Ford. A Daviess County native, Ford served in state and national government from 1966 to 1999. As governor, he signed into law legislation creating the 15 Area Development Districts.
“The Regional Excellence Awards and the Community of the Year Award are GRADD’s opportunity to spotlight exceptional service to the GRADD region,” said GRADD Executive Director Joanna Shake. “The people and communities recognized by these awards have demonstrated an incredible dedication to improving the lives of residents in our region.”
Applications will be accepted through August 16 and can be downloaded here. Awardees will be recognized at GRADD’s Annual Meeting on September 11 at Canaan Ridge Park in Webster County.
