The City of Tallahassee is made up of vibrant neighborhoods. Our neighborhoods and their residents are the foundation of who we are as a City. The City is committed to strengthening its neighborhoods and to provide neighborhood leaders with the resources and support they need to work with their neighbors. One component of strengthening neighborhoods and neighborhood leadership is the recognition of the initiatives and programs that neighborhood leaders and residents undertake to improve and enrich the quality of life within their neighborhoods, as well as the partnerships they have established with the City and other community partners to accomplish these projects.

The City of Tallahassee Neighborhood Awards Program seeks to highlight and recognize the outstanding work being done by neighborhood leaders and residents to express the City’s appreciation for residents’ involvement in their communities. For several years now, the City has hosted the annual Neighborhood of the Year (NOTY) Award Ceremony. During this event, the City recognizes the small (under 200 homes) and the large neighborhoods (200+ homes) of the year. In addition, the Neighbor of the Year and Best Neighborhood Programs are also recognized during this event.

Recipients of Neighborhood of the Year will receive an award sign to display in their respective neighborhoods. If a neighborhood has previously won Neighborhood of the Year, and wins again, they will receive a sign blade, to be affixed to their existing sign. For the 2024 program year, a cash prize in the amount of $500 will be awarded to the winners of Neighborhood of the Year to fund a neighborhood program/project. Recipients of the Best Neighborhood Program and Neighbor of the Year awards will receive an awards plaque.

Outstanding Neighbor of the Year Awards

Given to a resident or neighborhood leader who exemplifies the characteristics of leadership and service in making contributions to his or her community. The Neighbor of the Year award has been expanded to include two categories:

• Neighborhood Advocacy - Established to recognize a neighborhood leader or resident who has advocated for programs, policies, projects and initiatives that positively affect Tallahassee’s neighborhoods, whether for a single neighborhood or the entire community.
• Neighborliness - Established to recognize a neighborhood leader or resident who embodies a spirit of neighborliness, helping with efforts within or beyond their neighborhood that promote community, taking care of others, and providing neighborhood/community services.

Neighborhood of the Year Awards

This award recognizes a neighborhood or homeowners’ association that has facilitated improvement(s) in its community, kept neighbors actively engaged in community building activities, and/or lead projects to build or enhance neighborhood cohesion and communication. The focus of this award is the totality of all the efforts that a neighborhood has undertaken to build community and promote neighborhood stability.

• Small Neighborhood of the Year - Neighborhoods with fewer than 200 homes
• Large Neighborhood of the Year - Neighborhood with more than 200 homes

Best Neighborhood Program of the Year Awards

This award recognizes neighborhood and homeowners’ associations that have facilitated projects which improved the social aspects of a neighborhood, such as safety projects (i.e., Neighborhood PREP), block parties, neighborhood events, or other activities that foster teamwork and connectivity; and the physical aspects of a neighborhood, including recreational amenities, lighting, landscaping, signage, etc.

• Best Physical Neighborhood Improvement - A project focusing on enhancing the physical aspects of a neighborhood (parks, lighting, litter control, housing improvements, etc.)
• Best Social Neighborhood Improvement - A project focusing on enhancing the social or cultural aspects of a neighborhood (safety, youth and/or senior program, programs that foster teamwork, etc.)
• Best Neighborhood Communication - To highlight excellence and creativity in neighborhood-oriented publications and/or other neighborhood communication outreach activities, The Best Neighborhood Communications award will recognize neighborhood groups who are diligent in notifying residents, and/or promoting their organization and communication with members through printed newsletters, brochures, flyers, new resident guides, etc. and via social media communications such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, SnapChat, NextDoor, and other outlets.

2023 City of Tallahassee Neighborhood Award Winners

Local State Farm Agent Gayla Parks provided co-sponsorship support for this year's awards program. See a recap of the event on our YouTube channel.

For more information about the City's Neighborhood Awards Program and available neighborhood resources, visit Talgov.com/Neighborhoods.