STATE-ELIGIBLE AWARD CATEGORIES

NOTE: The California Chapter Awards Program will require an Excellence (first place) award at the Section level to proceed to the Chapter awards program for several specific categories. For information regarding the California Chapter application process, please visit  https://www.apacalifornia.org/events/awards-program/ 

Opportunity and Empowerment Award  

For a plan, program, or project that improved quality of life for low‐and moderate‐income community  residents. Emphasis is placed on how creative housing, economic development, and private investments  have been used in or with a comprehensive community development plan to empower a community. This  award also emphasizes tangible results and recognizes the planning discipline and its contribution as a  community strategy. The strategy should have been in effect for a minimum of three years.  

Examples: Regulatory reform; workforce development; affordable housing preservation; growth  management; public‐private partnerships; relevant transportation project; community participation; diverse  housing planning; and sustainable, economic development.  

Comprehensive Plan Award

To a comprehensive plan of unusually high merit completed within the past 3 years for, by or within a  jurisdiction. There are no limits on the size of jurisdiction.  

1. Large Jurisdiction: To a comprehensive plan of unusually high merit completed within the past 3  years for, by or within a jurisdiction with a population of 100,000 or more according to the most  recent available US Census data.  
2. Small Jurisdiction: To a comprehensive plan of unusually high merit completed within the past 3  years for, by, or within a jurisdiction with a population of less than 100,000 according to the most  recent available US Census data.  

NOTE: To be eligible for this category at the State level, a project must have a first place win at the Northern  Section level (no ties) in the same year.  

Implementation Awards ‐Large and Small Jurisdictions 

Recognizing an effort that demonstrates a significant  achievement for an area—a single community or a region—in accomplishing positive changes as a result of planning. This award emphasizes long‐term, measurable results. Nominated efforts should have been  in continuous effect for a minimum of three (3) years, not including the time for plan preparation and  approval.  

Examples: Plans for smart growth, signage, farmland preservation, urban design, wetland mitigation,  resource conservation, capital improvements, citizen participation, neighborhood improvements,  transportation management, or sustained economic development.  

NOTE: To be eligible for this category at the State level, a project must have a first place win at the Northern  Section level (no ties) in the same year.  

1. Implementation ‐‐Large Jurisdiction Award: For an effort that demonstrates a significant achievement for  a jurisdiction with a population of 100,000 or more, according to the most recent available US  Census data, in accomplishing positive change as a result of planning.  
   This award is for long‐term, measurable results to demonstrate that sustained implementation  makes a difference. Nominated efforts should have been in continuous effect for a minimum of five  years. Nominations can include, but not limited to, plans for smart growth, signage, farmland  preservation, urban design, wetland mitigation, resource conservation, capital improvements,  citizen participation, neighborhood improvement, transportation management, and sustained  economic development. 
2. Implementation ‐‐Small Jurisdiction Award: For an effort that demonstrates a significant achievement for  a jurisdiction with a population of less than 100,000, according to the most recent available US  Census data, in accomplishing positive change as a result of planning. This award is for long‐term,  measurable results to demonstrate that sustained implementation makes a difference. Nominated  efforts should have been in continuous effect for a minimum of five years. Nominations can include,  but not limited to, plans for smart growth, signage, farmland preservation, urban design, wetland  mitigation, resource conservation, capital improvements, citizen participation, neighborhood  improvement, transportation management, and sustained economic development. 

Resilience and Sustainability Award

This award recognizes a strategy that creates a more sustainable community and/or increases the ability of a community to recover from and adapt to shocks and stresses (economic impacts, natural disasters, human-caused disasters, climate change, etc.), resulting in it becoming stronger, more equitable, and better prepared for the future.  

Examples: A comprehensive plan, climate adaptation plan, or other plan that addresses resilience in substantive and innovative ways; a program or project such as use of green infrastructure to protect a community from hazards and build resilience; community engagement that increases understanding of resilience and leads to action; public health efforts or economic development plans or initiatives that improve the overall human and fiscal health of the community, etc.  

NOTE: To be eligible for this category at the State level, a project must have a first place win at the Northern Section  level (no ties) in the same year.  

Economic Planning and Development Award

This award honors efforts to transform economies and stimulate economic development in communities of  all sizes. 

Examples: Economic plans, economic recovery initiatives, urban and regional economic analyses,  commercial district revitalization, corridor revitalization, downtown specific plans, town center  developments, and strategic plans for economic development.  

Transportation Planning Award

This award honors efforts to increase transportation choices for all populations, reducing dependence on  private automobiles and helping to ease congestion and reducing climate change impacts.  

Examples: Transportation studies; complete streets plans or projects, plans for pedestrian, streets, highways, aviation, parking, maritime, transit or rail; development and expansion of transportation  systems; development and expansion of trail systems.  

Best Practices Award 

This award is for a specific planning tool, practice, program, project, or process. This category emphasizes  results and demonstrates how innovative and state‐of‐the‐art planning methods and practices help to  create communities of lasting value.  

Examples: Regulations and codes, tax policies or initiatives, growth management or design guidelines,  transferable development rights programs, land acquisition efforts, public‐private partnerships, applications  of technology, handbooks, or efforts that foster greater participation in community planning.  

NOTE: To be eligible for this category at the State level, a project must have a first place win at the Northern  Section level (no ties) in the same year.  

Grassroots Initiative Award  

Honoring an initiative that illustrates how a neighborhood, community group or other local non  governmental entity utilized the planning process to address a specific need or issue within the community.  Emphasis is placed on the success of planning in new or different settings, with total project budget  (including staff, consultant, and direct expenses) not exceeding $25,000.  

Examples: Community policing or drug prevention, neighborhood outreach initiatives, programs designed  for special populations, public art or cultural efforts, community festivals, environmental or conservation  initiatives, summer recreational initiatives for children, vacant lot management, transportation innovations,  or focused tourism ventures. 

NOTE: To be eligible for this category at the State level, a project must have a first place win at the Northern  Section level (no ties) in the same year.  

Public Outreach Award 

This award honors an individual, project, or program that uses information and education about the value  of planning to create greater awareness among citizens or specific segments of the public. The award  celebrates how planning improves a community’s quality of life. 

Examples: Broad community efforts showing how planning can make a difference, curricula designed to  teach children about planning, neighborhood empowerment programs, use of technology to expand public  participation in planning.  

Urban Design Award 

This award honors efforts to create a sense of place, whether a street, public space, neighborhood, or  campus effort. 

Examples: Streetscape plans; design guidelines; downtown and neighborhood districts; public space plans;  hospital, college or other campus plan.  

Planning Advocate Award 

This award honors an individual or appointed or elected official who has advanced or promoted the cause  of planning in the public arena.  

Examples: Engaged citizens demonstrating outstanding leadership in a community, region, or state;  members of planning commissions, board of appeals, economic development boards, environmental or  historic preservation boards, commissions or committees, or other appointed officials; elected officials  holding office at the local, regional, or state level; citizen activists or neighborhood leaders. 

Communications Initiative Award

This award honors efforts to “tell the planning story” and increase awareness and understanding about the  planning profession.  

Examples: Newspaper articles; series of blog posts or a planning‐focused blog; publications (books or  magazines); websites; podcasts; films.  

Hard‐Won Victories Award  

For a planning initiative or other planning effort undertaken by a community, neighborhood, citizens group, or jurisdiction in the face of difficult or trying circumstances. This award recognizes the positive effect  of hard‐won victories by professional planners, citizen planners, or both working together under difficult,  challenging, or adverse conditions because of natural disasters, local circumstances, financial or  organization constraints, social factors, or other causes.   

Advancing Diversity and Social Change in Honor of Paul Davidoff  Award

This award honors an individual, project, group, or organization that promotes diversity and demonstrates a  sustained commitment to advocacy by addressing the concerns of women and minorities through specific  actions or contributions within the planning profession or through planning practice. The award honors the  late APA member, Paul Davidoff, for his contributions to the planning profession.  

Examples: A general or comprehensive plan that improves the living conditions of those in an  underrepresented neighborhood, an individual working to improve the lives of others, a policy that  addresses a need not currently met through other efforts.  

Planning Landmark and Planning Pioneer Awards  

Nominations for Planning Landmark Awards may only be submitted for those projects, initiatives, or  endeavors located in the Section, and nominations for Pioneer Awards may only be submitted for those  individuals that are current, retired, or deceased Section members. Special criteria have been established  for these two award categories.  

1. Planning Landmark Award: The Planning Landmark Award is for a planning project, initiative, or  endeavor that are at least 25 years old that are historically significant, initiated a new direction in  planning or impacted American planning, cities or regions over a broad range of time or space.  
2. Planning Pioneer Award: Presented to pioneers of the profession who have made personal and  direct innovations in American planning that have significantly and positively redirected planning  practices, education or theory with long‐term results.  

Planning Firm Award

Honors a planning firm that has produced distinguished work that continues to influence the professional  practice of planning. 

Planning Agency Award

This award honors the work of a public sector planning agency that has continually produced a program of  exceptional work that has elevated awareness about planning. 

Examples: Metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning associations, planning department,  planning board, zoning board.  

Emerging Planning and Design Firm Award

This award honors a young planning and design firm that has helped elevate the planning profession and  build public support for planning, and through its current work demonstrates the potential of having a continual influence on the planning profession for years to come.  

Academic Award  

To faculty and/or students to recognize outstanding work done in planning schools on an individual or  collective basis.