Tallahassee Named 2025 All-America City Finalist

Sent on behalf of the Office of the Mayor

April 02, 2025

Today, April 2, Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey announced the community has been named a finalist for the 2025 All-America City Award. For over 75 years, the National Civic League's All-America City Award has highlighted and celebrated outstanding civic innovation, recognizing communities that harness the power of local collaboration to drive meaningful change. Each year, only 10 communities earn this prestigious honor. Tallahassee was first recognized as an All-America City in 1999 and earned it again in 2015.

"I am thrilled that Tallahassee has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 All-America City Award," Mayor John Dailey said. "We are a dynamic, forward-thinking community where passionate residents come together to create a sustainable future for all. Earning our third All-America City designation would be an incredible honor, and I'm excited to showcase Tallahassee's strengths—our unique culture of collaboration and our shared dedication to continually enhancing the quality of life that makes us truly stand out."

The focus of this year's All-America City Award is on strengthening environmental sustainability through inclusive community engagement.

"Communities thrive when all residents have a voice in the policies and decisions that shape their lives. This year's finalists are leading the way by removing barriers to participation and implementing programs that foster sustainability, resilience, and inclusive engagement," said Doug Linkhart, President of the National Civic League.

Finalists were selected through a rigorous review process conducted by an independent panel of experts. Cities were assessed based on criteria such as shared vision, citizen engagement, inclusivity and equity, collaboration, innovation and impact. The City of Tallahassee highlighted key community-driven initiatives including the Southside Action Plan, the expansion of the park system to 100 parks and the Clean Energy Plan.

A team of residents, nonprofit, business and government leaders will join the 20 other finalist communities in Denver from June 27-29. Attendees will be immersed in a dynamic program featuring workshops, panel discussions and peer learning sessions led by national thought leaders and practitioners. Each community will present the story of their work to a jury of nationally recognized civic leaders. The event is every bit as much about learning and networking as it is about competing for the coveted All-America City title.

The 20 finalist communities span 12 states and range in size from 11,000 residents to nearly one million. Despite their differences, they share a commitment to empowering residents, fostering civic engagement and ensuring meaningful participation in local decision-making. 2025 All-America City finalist communities are Akron, Ohio; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Austin, Texas; Carrboro, North Carolina; Chelsea, Massachusetts; Delray Beach, Florida; Denver, Colorado; Fort Collins, Colorado; Hampton, Virginia; Jacksonville, North Carolina; Kinston, North Carolina; Leominster, Massachusetts; Memphis, Tennessee; Petaluma, California; Port St. Lucie, Florida; Seattle, Washington; Snyder, Texas; Statesboro, Georgia; Tallahassee, Florida; and Western Riverside Region, California.

For more information about the National Civic League and the All-America City Award, visit www.nationalcivicleague.org. Read its press release at https://conta.cc/3Ye7H9H.