WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Counties (NACo) today announced that Lake County, Ill. and the villages of Old Mill Creek and Wadsworth collectively are one of 10 recipients of its prestigious 2006-2007 Center for Sustainable Communities Awards.

The awards, presented every two years by NACo’s Center for Sustainable Communities, recognize the most effective and innovative county-led partnerships with the private sector, other governments or community groups in developing economically prosperous, environmentally safe, and socially equitable communities.

The county was honored along with the villages of Old Mill Creek and Wadsworth for the Rt. 173/I-94 Intergovernmental Agreement. (See project description below.) Honorees received their awards during a reception this evening at NACo headquarters in Washington, D.C. Winners were selected by a panel of independent judges.

“I commend everyone who was involved in developing these outstanding community partnerships,” said NACo President Eric Coleman, commissioner, Oakland County, Mich. “It is our hope that the national awards will spotlight your communities’ great achievements and inspire others across the country to explore similar strategies to develop vibrant and sustainable communities.”

The NACo Center for Sustainable Communities primary mission is to provide a forum for county leaders to work with other governments, the private sector, and communities to develop policies and programs that will lead to economic enhancement, environmental stewardship and social well-being — the three pillars of sustainable communities. The center helps local elected officials build sustainable communities by promoting community leadership initiatives, facilitating multijurisdictional and public-private partnerships, providing technical assistance and training, and conducting community policy and educational forums.

The sponsors for the 2007 Center for Sustainable Communities Awards Program include: Bank of America, the International Center of Shopping Centers, the Institute for Building Technology and Safety, the National Association of Home Builders, and the National Association of Realtors.

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The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,066 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public’s understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money. For more information about NACo, visit www.naco.org. For more information about the NACo Center for Sustainable Communities, contact Abby Friedman at afriedman@naco.org or 202-942-4225.

National Association of Counties Center for Sustainable Communities 2007 Awards 2007 Award Winners Boulder County, Colo., Boulder County Super IGA; Charleston County, S.C., Project Impact Partnership; Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren Counties, N.C., Kerr-Tar Regional Economic Development Corporation; Gwinnett County, Ga., The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center; Harford, Cecil, and Baltimore Counties, Md., Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor: An Unprecedented Partnership; Lake County, Ill., Rt. 173/I-94 Intergovernmental Agreement, Louisville-Jefferson County, Ky., The Partnership for a Green City; Morrow County, Ohio, Wheels to Work; Prince George’s County, Md., Low Impact Development/Green Highway Programs; and Woodbury County, Iowa Comprehensive Local Foods System Project. Lake County and the Villages of Old Mill Creek and Wadsworth, Illinois: Route 173/I-94 Intergovernmental Agreement Located strategically just south of one of Wisconsin’s premier industrial parks, the intersection of Rt. 173 and I-94 is the last undeveloped interchange in Illinois. Blessed with a key strategic location and established development nearby, the intersection presented a unique opportunity to help to enhance the region and create a more sustainable community. However, located in three different jurisdictions, the interchange also presented a series of jurisdictional challenges regarding infrastructure, zoning, planning and design which needed to be addressed. Working together, Lake County and its partners, the villages of Old Mill Creek and Wadsworth, developed a model intergovernmental agreement that met the needs of each locality and enhanced the region as a whole.

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National Association of Counties Center for Sustainable Communities 2007 Awards

2007 Award Winners

Boulder County, Colo., Boulder County Super IGA; Charleston County, S.C., Project Impact Partnership; Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren Counties, N.C., Kerr-Tar Regional Economic Development Corporation; Gwinnett County, Ga., The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center; Harford, Cecil, and Baltimore Counties, Md., Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor: An Unprecedented Partnership; Lake County, Ill., Rt. 173/I-94 Intergovernmental Agreement, Louisville-Jefferson County, Ky., The Partnership for a Green City; Morrow County, Ohio, Wheels to Work; Prince George’s County, Md., Low Impact Development/Green Highway Programs; and Woodbury County, Iowa Comprehensive Local Foods System Project.

Lake County and the Villages of Old Mill Creek and Wadsworth, Illinois: Route 173/I-94 Intergovernmental Agreement

Located strategically just south of one of Wisconsin’s premier industrial parks, the intersection of Rt. 173 and I-94 is the last undeveloped interchange in Illinois. Blessed with a key strategic location and established development nearby, the intersection presented a unique opportunity to help to enhance the region and create a more sustainable community. However, located in three different jurisdictions, the interchange also presented a series of jurisdictional challenges regarding infrastructure, zoning, planning and design which needed to be addressed. Working
together, Lake County and its partners, the villages of Old Mill Creek and Wadsworth, developed a model intergovernmental agreement that met the needs of each locality and enhanced the region as a whole.

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