Each of the six winners will receive a $100,000 grant to support replication activities of their significant and creative efforts.
"These ground-breaking efforts represent the shining stars in government innovations," said Gowher Rizvi, Director of the Ash Institute. "Each takes a creative approach to a significant problem and it is our honor to bring them well-deserved recognition and to encourage other government entities to replicate them."
"Government innovation is alive and flourishing at every level of government," added Stephen Goldsmith, director of the Innovations in American Government Awards. "These six programs are a testament to that ? as well as a testament to the creative, hard working public servants who make them happen."
The winning programs include:
- Charter Agencies in the State of Iowa -- redirects energy from bureaucratic requirements into innovation. The agencies volunteer to be accountable for measurable customer benefits and contribute savings/revenues in return for exemption from many state requirements.
- Program Assessment Rating Tool at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget -- assesses every federal program's purpose, design, management and results to determine effectiveness. The uniform assessment is used to improve management and to make informed budget decisions. www.whitehouse.gov/omb/part/
- Youth Civic Engagement in Hampton, Va. -- a comprehensive youth engagement strategy that gives young people authority to be equal players in city decisions. Youth have a "place at the table" in city government and play an active role in directing city services, schools and neighborhoods.www.hampton.va.us/foryouth/index.html
- Systematic Code Enforcement Program of Los Angeles, Calif., (winner of the Fannie Mae Foundation Innovations in American Government Award in Affordable Housing) -- proactively inspects more than 760,000 rental units in Los Angeles for habitability and enforces state health and safety codes. www.lacity.org/lahd
