To nationally recognize the impressive efforts of regional development organizations, NADO sponsors two annual award programs and a member photo contest. Both awards provide an excellent opportunity for members to promote their successes to a national audience and with their regional and local partners. Applicants must be NADO members, and projects must show substantial quantitative or qualitative results in their region.
Each year, NADO recognizes member organizations that demonstrate valuable and effective approaches to regional economic and community development. Since 1986, The Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Awards (formerly known as the Innovation Awards), have recognized nearly 2,000 NADO member projects for their creative efforts in advancing regional economic development and improved quality of life.Â
The Excellence in Regional Transportation Award, a program of NADO’s RPO America and the NADO Research Foundation’s Center for Transportation Advancement and Regional Development, recognizes noteworthy projects and practices in rural and small metropolitan transportation planning, programming, and service delivery.
Each year, NADO holds a Member Photo Contest starting in late summer. The contest is an opportunity for our member organizations to tell the story of their regions through images that capture the people and places that make their communities interesting places to live, work, and play.
Applications cannot be saved and returned to at a later time. It is recommended you compile all of your information in advance in a word processor and cut and paste into the application below.
2023 Impact Awards
Contact Melissa Levy
Contact Krishna Kunapareddy
Contact Andrew Coker
Contact Lara Gale
Contact Katie Allison
Contact Jack Morgan
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Joe McKinney serves as Executive Director of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). Headquartered in Washington DC, NADO provides advocacy, education, research, and training for the nation’s 500+ regional planning and development organizations.
Joe has thirty-one years of experience having served in city, county, regional, national association, and government management since 1991. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy Analysis from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a candidate for a master’s degree in Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.
McKinney has provided congressional testimony on numerous occasions regarding the importance of regional development organizations in helping shape the nation’s economic growth. He is nationally recognized for promoting innovative solutions in areas such as planning and economic development, workforce development, transportation and transit, and aging services.