The Virginia Municipal League convention is this week in Richmond.  I attended the first two days but had to come back last night for a Museum Board meeting.  The big awards banquet was last night and Manassas was the recipient of the Presidents award for our Neighborhood Revitalization Project!

Selected bits of the press release:  “The Virginia Municipal League (VML) has
notified the City of Manassas that the municipality will be awarded the VML
President’s Award 2011 for its Neighborhood Services revitalization projects, including 1 By Youth, Week of Hope and Neighborhood Improvement Circles.

The VML President’s Award is the most prestigious award given by the Virginia Municipal League, recognizing the best of all candidates nominated  in VML’s annual achievement awards competition. The award recognizes  innovative problem-solving, excellence in management, increasing citizen  participation, and reaching toward higher service levels.”

“This is local government of the future: partners, mentors,  facilitators.even cheerleaders to emerging community leaders,” said City  Manager Lawrence D. Hughes. “Our Council has cut $3 million, five  departments and the equivalent of 20 full-time positions to balance the  budget. We need residents who are themselves engaged in revitalizing their  own neighborhoods.”