Economic Development

Entrepreneurial American Community Award

The Entrepreneurial American Community Award acknowledges the individuals, groups, and communities that have recognized the value of building a broad constituency among the public and private realms to improve the standing of all residents in their community.

City of Houston, Texas is being honored for successfully transforming itself from a city once reliant on the fossil fuel industry into one of the most economically and culturally dynamic American cities. With a strong economy and high level of diversity, Houston today has set an example for what American communities should aspire to become in the future.

Accepted by Gordon Quan on behalf of Mayor Annise Parker

In the 1980s, Houston was a city with an economy largely reliant on the fossil fuel industry. When oil prices started falling, the local economy suffered dramatically. The end of the oil boom slowed the city’s growth and sent Houston into a recession by the end of the decade.

Today, Houston has one of the fastest growing job markets in the country and is widely considered one of the most ethnically and economically diverse cities in the world. It is home to a flourishing arts and culture community and is quickly becoming a premier destination for foodies worldwide. Respected publications, such as Forbes and the Smithsonian Magazine, have called Houston the “Future of the Great American City.”

Smart policies and effective leadership have fueled Houston’s impressive transformation. It is clear that Houston policymakers understand what it takes to make a truly livable city. Investment in areas such as education, health, renewable energy, and technology have spurred this dramatic growth. Houston has set the precedent for America’s future cities, making it one of the most entrepreneurial communities in America today. Gordon Quan, former Mayor Pro-Tem, will accept the award on behalf of Mayor Anise Parker and the City of Houston.

Photo Description: The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located just a few hours’ sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico. The port is ranked first in the United States in foreign waterborne commerce and second in total tonnage.

Photo credit: Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau

Bridge Builders Award

The Bridge Builders Award honors civic leaders who have formed partnerships across racial, social, economic, and geographic barriers for the betterment of their communities.

The Inter-American Foundation is being honored for more than 40 years of work helping to fund development projects undertaken by grassroots groups and non-governmental organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on the inclusion of the society’s most marginalized communities. Since 1972, the IAF has awarded over $680 million in grants that have benefited hundreds of thousands of families. Robert N. Kaplan, president and CEO, will accept the award.

The Inter-American Foundation, created in 1972 by the Foreign Assistance Act, supports development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IAF is unique in that it exclusively funds grassroots, nongovernmental organizations, thereby elevating the role of communities and their residents in development and aid initiatives. The IAF remains an integral component of American foreign policy, fostering good relations with our Latin American neighbors.

Robert N. Kaplan is the current president of the organization. Prior to joining the IAF, Kaplan was the head of the Inter-American Development Bank, where he was responsible for aid projects in Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Central America. Kaplan has a distinguished career in international development and has manned the helm of one of the most important organizations bringing goodwill to the Western Hemisphere today, and we are pleased to present him with the Bridge Builders Award.

Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award

The Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award acknowledges the civic capacity building, commitment, vision and entrepreneurial spirit of an individual.

Sheena Wright is being honored for her extensive work towards improving community livability for New York City’s most underserved populations. Wright has spearheaded efforts to revitalize New York’s marginalized communities and helped build the first new high school building in Harlem in 50 years. She was recently appointed the first female president of the United Way of New York City.

Inspired by her mother’s commitment to education, Wright enrolled at Columbia University at 16 years of age and earned both her bachelor’s and law degrees from the esteemed university. After working for various law firms, she changed her focus to community empowerment and became the vice president of the start-up Crave Technologies.

Wright then moved on to become the president and CEO of the Abyssinian Development Corporation, a community development organization founded by the distinguished Reverend Calvin O. Butts, III. There, she led a number of far-reaching community initiatives, including projects that helped create over 1,000 new jobs, build 785 units of affordable housing, and improve the quality of life of New York City’s most vulnerable residents.

In October 2012, Wright became the first woman to be named the president and CEO of the United Way of New York, where she will continue her important work empowering underserved communities and promoting equity in this time of need.

On Thursday, the National League of Cities released The 10 Critical Imperatives Facing Cities in 2014, its annual report highlighting ten of the most pressing issues facing cities across the United States. Partners board member and incoming NLC President, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker explained during the report's unveiling, "This is not a wish list just of cities. This is a wish list of the people who live in America. That’s 80 percent of the population of America that’s being represented through us."

The ten items on the list were:

1. Fragile Fiscal Health
2. Deteriorating Transportation Infrastructure
3. The Shrinking Middle Class
4. Inadequate Access to Higher Education
5. The Need for Affordable Housing
6. A Less-Than-Welcoming Return for Veterans
7. Gang Violence
8. A Broken Immigration System
9. Climate Change and Extreme Weather
10. Lack of Public Trust

Click here to read the full report from NLC, which includes an overview of initiatives being taken by cities in their own efforts to tackle these ten challenges and create more livable communities for their residents.

Longtime Partners board member Jay Williams will face the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works next Tuesday (12/17) as he seeks Senate confirmation to head the Economic Development Administration (EDA), a federal agency institutionally housed within the U.S. Department of Commerce. The EDA is tasked with leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and collaboration and by helping communities build the foundation for long-term growth.