This just in from Metro… looks like the Portland region is in final round of LivCom awards. We’re up against Curitiba, Brazil, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, and Changwon City, South Korea. Interesting. Didn’t know they had serious awards like this. Neat that we’re in the finals though. Winner announced Sunday. Full release below:
Metro region is a top contender to be named world’s most livable community
A Metro team is in Chicago this week, competing for the Portland metropolitan area to be named the world’s most livable community.
Based on a written entry, the region was selected as a finalist in the International Awards for Liveable Communities. The competition, which is endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme, was launched in 1997 to recognize innovative approaches to improving sustainability and quality of life.
Metro Council President Carlotta Collette, Sustainability Center Director Jim Desmond and Planning Director Robin McArthur are representing Metro in the largest population category, for communities with a daytime population of more than 400,000. They will square off against competitors including Curitiba, Brazil; Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; and Changwon City, South Korea.
The LivCom Awards, as they’re dubbed, judge communities on six criteria: enhancement of the natural and built landscapes; arts, culture and heritage; environmental best practices; community participation and empowerment; healthy lifestyle; and strategic planning. Metro’s entry highlighted the region’s culture of collaboration and commitment to sustainability, including the voter-approved natural areas bond measure and the historic efforts to select protected rural lands and potential growth areas for the next half century.
Watch Metro’s presentation live at approximately 9:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, by visiting www.livcomawards.com. Winners will be announced Monday night.