As they’ve done through previous years, Main Street America will be a co-sponsor of the awards program sponsored by CivicPlus, Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award (STACVA). The national program will honor 100 extraordinary public service volunteers in smaller localities , shining a spotlight on the growing need for citizens to fill critical civic roles that support key local government functions. The percentage of people volunteering in small towns and rural counties has dropped over the years, and the CivicPlus program will serve as an opportunity for Main Street communities and localities to celebrate local volunteers, spurring renewed interest in civic volunteerism.

“Over the past 20 years working with local governments, we have seen first-hand that the most successful cities, towns and counties are powered by passionate people who want to make a difference in the place they call home! We are hoping to accomplish two critical goals with this initiative: bring attention to the need for more civic volunteerism, and recognize those who have found solutions to declining participation and are building powerful community networks focused on civic engagement.” –  Brian Rempe, CEO, CivicPlus

Localities represented by the top 100 national nominees will receive free volunteer management modules and 12 months of free ongoing support services from CivicPlus, with the top three also receiving cash awards of $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. Check out the contest timeline below:

Contest Timeline:

• July 15 – Nomination Begins
• October 15 – Nomination Deadline
• November 15 – Awards Announced

Click here to learn more about the program and how to nominate a extraordinary civic volunteer in your community! Interested applicants can also click here to view frequently asked questions!