Award Winners

2010

Planning Initiative Award
Outstanding Planning Initiative, (John Keller Award) given to an outstanding initiative or program in public education, workshops, ordinances, or enforcement that promotes planning in small towns and rural areas was awarded to Grinnell, Iowa (population 9,106) and Russ Behrens, City Manager, for their public‐private partnerships.

Outstanding Planner Award
Outstanding Small Town and Rural Planner, (Carol Thomas Award) given to an individual in public service, academia or the private sector that has made an outstanding contribution to planning in their community, was awarded to Philip Chester, AICP of the Town of Lebanon, Connecticut (population 7,400).

Outstanding Student Project
Outstanding Student Project, (James Segedy Award) given to an outstanding project by a graduate or undergraduate class or individual that addresses a planning issue facing small town or  rural areas, was awarded for the Baptist Master Plan in Greenwood, Mississippi prepared by students at Mississippi State University.

Outstanding Comprehensive Plan
Outstanding Comprehensive Plan or Special Project Plan, (Dr. Vernon Dienes)
Award) given to an outstanding comprehensive plan or special project plan that addresses the development of a neighborhood, community, county or region was awarded to the Luna Pier Michigan Master Plan (population 1,400) prepared as a partnership effort by Randy Mielnik, AICP of Poggemeyer Design Group along with Tad Krear of Land Design Studio, the Luna Pier Planning Commission, Luna Pier City Administrator, and the Monroe County, Michigan Planning Department.

2009

The Vernon Deines Award for Outstanding Small Town or Rural Plan is given to an outstanding comprehensive plan or special project plan. This year's recipient was the Harrison County, Mississippi for its 2030 Comprehensive Plan, which was prepared with assistance from Jennifer Evans-Crowley, AICP, Ohio State University Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture. The jury was impressed by the Plan's overall quality, innovation, transferability and use of smart growth principles.

The John Keller Award for Outstanding Planning Initiative for a Small Town or Rural Area was given to Town of Williston, Vermont for its Williston Growth Center, which was prepared with assistance from Lee Nellis, AICP. The plan was a smart growth project. The jury was impressed by its innovative approach and its transferability to other areas facing the same issues.

The James A. Segedy Award for an Outstanding Student Project was given to the Virginia Tech Urban Affairs and Planning Graduate Land Use Planning Students for its Implementing the Village Plans: Best Practices and Recommendations for Zoning Virginia. The students were led by Professor Diane Zahm, Student Advisor.

The Carol Thomas Award for Outstanding Small Town or Rural Planner was given to J. Michael Gurnee, AICP, of Dodge City, Kansas for assisting other small town planners, serving as a mentor, and for helping the City of Greensburg, Kansas through its disaster recovery phase and into the rebuilding phase as a sustainable community.

2008

The Vernon Deines Award for Outstanding Small Town or Rural Plan is given to an outstanding comprehensive plan or special project plan. This year's recipient is the Town of Avon, Colorado, for the Avon Comprehensive Plan.

The John Keller Award for Outstanding Planning Initiative for a Small Town or Rural Area is given to the Town of Moreland, Georgia, for its Community Outreach efforts for the 2006-2026 Comprehensive Plan.

The James A. Segedy Award for an Outstanding Student Project was given to Ohio State University for its Community Plan for Eastern Harrison County, Mississippi, completed by CRP 852 students Joshua Anderson, Ian Beniston, Ma'ayan Citron, Nathan Leppo, Bridget Troy, Erica Wicks, and Rickie Yeager. 

2007

The Vernon Deines Award for Outstanding Small Town or Rural Plan is given to an outstanding comprehensive plan or special project plan. This year's recipient was the City of Adrian, Michigan for its 2006 Comprehensive Plan, which was prepared with assistance from Birchler Arroyo Associates, Inc. The jury was impressed by the Plan's overall quality, innovation, transferability and use of smart growth principles.

The John Keller Award for Outstanding Planning Initiative for a Small Town or Rural Area was given to Oliver Township, Michigan for its Utility Grid Wind Energy Exclusion Zone, which was prepared with assistance from the Spicer Group. The plan seeks to balance the competing interests of expanding wind energy while protecting agricultural lands and natural resources. The jury was impressed by its innovative approach and its transferability to other areas facing the same issues.

The James A. Segedy Award for an Outstanding Student Project was given to Ohio State University for it Pineville, Mississippi Community Plan. The students, led by Professor Jennifer Evans-Cowley, assisted Pineville in its first planning effort to incorporate citizen input, and this following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The students were able to convey planning concepts in laymen's terms and encouraged smart growth and LEED concepts to the rural community.

The Carol Thomas Award for Outstanding Small Town or Rural Planner was given to Professor William J. Kelley of Eastern State University for his role in assisting small towns in the Pacific Northwest while developing future planners to serve in these same communities and others.