Phoenix Sister Cities Commission Recognized for Excellence
May 30, 2002
The Phoenix Sister Cities Commission is taking home the top national prize for its outstanding work in overall programs, as well as receiving two additional awards for its economic development efforts and disability awareness accomplishments. Phoenix is the first city in the country to receive three awards in the same year. The commission will be honored at the Sister Cities International Annual Conference July 19 in Toledo, Ohio.
For the second time in three years, Phoenix has received the Best Overall Program Award from Sister Cities International in the category of U.S. cities with more than 300,000 people. The award honors an outstanding sister city for its effective program administration, variety of exchanges offered and overall efforts to improve international cooperation and understanding.
Again this year, the Phoenix Sister Cities Commission earned the Innovation in Economic Development Award for creating economic development opportunities with its sister cities, most notably Calgary, Canada; and Hermosillo, Mexico. While PSCC helps small- and mid- sized businesses in Arizona develop economic ties with all nine of its sister cities, two events in particular earned the group this award. The Trilateral Trade Conference held in Phoenix in January 2001 helped foster trade links among agribusiness representatives in Arizona, Canada and Mexico. In addition, PSCC conducted a business delegation to Hermosillo in March 2001 that included such companies as APS, Hickman Foods and Water Science Technology, accompanied by Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza and members of the Arizona Diamondbacks to promote cross-border business opportunities.
For the fourth year in a row, PSCC also is the recipient of the National
Organization on Disability/Aetna Award for its efforts to involve disabled
people in the sister cities movement. Phoenix is the only sister city organization
in the country to have a disability awareness group and actively recruits
disabled people to participate in its events and programs. Phoenix's Disabilities
Awareness Committee proposed creation of a Disabilities Awareness Advisory
Committee at the national level, and the group now helps other U.S. sister
cities involve the disability community in their activities.
The sister cities program was initiated by Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower in
1956. Phoenix is one of nearly 1,500 cities in the U.S. affiliated with more
than 2,200 international cities and has coordinated educational, cultural
and business exchange programs since 1972. Phoenix's sister cities include
Calgary, Canada; Catania, Italy; Chengdu, China; Ennis, Ireland; Grenoble,
France; Hermosillo, Mexico; Himeji, Japan; Prague, Czech Republic; and Taipei,
Taiwan. For more information, call 602-534-3748. -30-
Media Contact:
| Christiana Ferris |
602-262-6169 |
| Rick Gerrard |
602-534-3748 |
