Eau Claire's All-America City delegation before leaving for Denver earlier this week.

On Sunday evening, June 15, Eau Claire became one of the prestigious National Civic League’s All-America City Award winners. Eau Claire stood out among the 25 cities nominated to be one of a super-select group of 10 municipalities who have demonstrated “innovation, inclusiveness, civic engagement, and cross-sector collaboration” in the face of local challenges.

Eau Claire had considered pursuing the award in the past, but the application process is challenging and time-consuming. This year, the city sought the help of Leadership Eau Claire, a leadership skill-building program of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce. After learning in April that Eau Claire had been selected as one of the 25 finalists, an eight-member Leadership Eau Claire team worked with the city, the Chamber, and other community groups to put together a 10-minute presentation that, other than two wireless microphones and a boom box, was required to be completely analog. It featured 12 members of Visit Eau Claire’s Fun Patrol and banners of photos from the city’s past and present. What really stood out, however, was its substance. Eau Claire’s presentation addressed the recent focus on public health, the efforts to redevelop the North Barstow/Phoenix Park neighborhood, and the Clear Vision process.

All of their hard work paid off on Sunday when a jury of civic experts in Denver, Colorado made official what citizens of Eau Claire have known all along – this city cannot be beat. Congratulations to everyone involved!