City Honored as Finalist in Voice of the People Awards
October 9, 2024 - The City of Corvallis has been named a finalist for the 2024 Voice of the People (VOP) Award for Excellence in Mobility. The award recognizes the City's data-driven approach to transportation that led to a $664,000 grant from the federal government for street safety.
The VOP Awards are the only nationally recognized honors given to local governments based on resident input, government performance, and community data in decision-making. This is the 16th year of the awards, presented by Polco and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
In a time of fading public trust and polarization, community-centered governance is more important than ever.
“Local governments face significant challenges today. Collaboration, resident participation, and data-informed decision-making are vital for solving these complex issues. The VOP awards highlight these communities as national models for addressing difficult problems in government. In an era of profound transition, these organizations are crafting the blueprint for a better democracy," said Nick Mastronardi, CEO of Polco. “We are thrilled to acknowledge the dedication of these well-deserving communities and celebrate their hard work.”
Corvallis was nominated for the Excellence in Mobility award after receiving consistently high marks year over year on The National Community Survey (NCS). The NCS is a nationwide community livability assessment with the largest database of its kind and nearly a thousand participating municipalities over the last thirty years. The database represents the perspectives of more than 50 million Americans, and well over 100 jurisdictions conduct the survey each year.
The nomination packet from Corvallis described how the City's Public Works Department took action to address transportation safety by seeking a $664,000 grant from the Safe Streets and Roads for All through the U.S. Department of Transportation. The funding was awarded for specific planning projects that reflect community priorities identified through various transportation system plans. These projects will address key focus areas on the City's biennial community survey related to transportation safety and infrastructure.
"We're so pleased to receive this honor from Polco and ICMA in recognition of the grant funding we were able to bring into the Corvallis community," said Patrick W. Rollens, the City's Public Information Officer. "Mobility is an important category of public services, and this grant will help us engage in data-driven decision-making to improve our overall transportation system."
