Triumphing over hundreds of other communities nationwide, Community Playmaker magazine has named Greeley the 2024 Community of the Year.
“This award reflects the teamwork of our community leaders, residents and organizations,” Mayor John Gates said in a city news release. “It shows that when we work together with a shared vision, we can achieve great things.”
The city’s work on the gBETA accelerator program and their Housing For All initiative pushed Greeley to the top, according to Community Playmaker, a national platform that highlights leaders in government and innovative ideas. These two programs showcased what the magazine described as Greeley’s proactive approach to residential growth, economic development and community engagement.
“We were inspired by the vision of Greeley’s leaders to improve life for residents and the determination and creativity they used to achieve it,” Community Playmaker Managing Editor Johnny Crosskey said. “Your dedication to improving lives sets an example for other communities of your size.”
The gBETA accelerator program helps small businesses access the tools and connections they need to thrive. The Housing for All initiative, which uses the city council-approved “Housing First” model, tackles the issues of affordable housing and homelessness head-on.
As the name implies, the Housing First model aims to first provide housing for those in need above all else through collaboration with mental health and faith-based organizations to help identify barriers to that goal. Last year, the city provided permanent shelter to 105 families as part of its goal to end homelessness in Greeley.
“I like to call it a hand up, not a handout,” Gates was quoted in Community Playmaker’s spotlight of the city. “We have the compassionate approach to try to get folks who are homeless, those who want to be housed into some safe affordable housing.”
Last year, Community Playmaker picked Marion, Iowa, for the Community of the Year.
For more information about Community Playmaker and the Community of the Year Award, go to communityplaymaker.com.
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