NEWS
RELEASE
May 5,
2025
Missouri Municipal League Announces 2025 MML Innovation
Award Winners
JEFFERSON
CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Municipal League is
proud to announce the winners of the 2025 MML Innovation Awards. These awards
honor outstanding projects happening in communities across Missouri that
enhance the quality of life for Missouri cities.
The projects illustrate
the creativity of Missouri’s local officials and municipal employees as they
serve their communities and keep Missouri cities vibrant.
Cities across the state also celebrate Missouri Local
Government Week this week (May 4-10). It is the perfect time to highlight the
MML Innovation Award winners, as these projects demonstrate the dedication of those
serving in local government. They also emphasize the valuable partnerships city
officials develop with other cities, nonprofit organizations, businesses and
citizens.
Awards are based on city population size. This year, MML
received 18 submissions from municipalities statewide, demonstrating creativity
and ingenuity within local government.
Learn more about Local
Government Week at www.mocities.com and find more information regarding the MML
Innovation Awards at www.mocities.com/InnovationAwards.
This year’s winners are:
City of Columbia (Metro
City, with population more than 30,000)
Home Weatherization Grant Program
The city of Columbia’s Home Weatherization Grant Program is
designed to make housing costs more affordable for those most in need. Utility
costs are a factor in housing affordability and often, those people who are
housing burdened have difficulty paying their utility bills and the costs of
utilities can further burden homeowners. They often live in older homes,
without adequate insulation and weatherization. Burdened homeowners often do
not have the funds available to upgrade their insulation and improve weatherization.
The city of Columbia’s Home Weatherization Grant Program
objectives is to provide insulation and weatherization to reduce the utility
costs on those housing burdened homeowners, thereby making housing more
affordable. Cost burdened homeowners are eligible to receive insulation and
weatherization upgrades at no cost through the City’s contractor. The City
designed the program to target homeowners who receive utility assistance funds,
who are on utility payment plans, who have been subject to disconnections, and
those who meet income qualifications, or live in a qualified census block.
City of Ozark (Large
City, with population 15,000 -30,000)
Garrison Springs Community Forest
Ozark city officials envisioned a space where citizens and visitors
could experience the native ecosystems, geological features, and historical
significance of the Ozarks up close. This idea, identified in the city's 2017
Master Parks and Recreation Plan, became a reality in 2020 with the acquisition
of a nearly 10-acre property in the rolling hills of Ozark. The site, now known
as Garrison Springs Community Forest, is a testament to vision, collaboration,
and dedication to preserving the community's natural beauty and history.
The forest officially opened in August 2024 and quickly
became a popular destination for school visits, outdoor enthusiasts, and nature
lovers. Visitors can explore the land's natural beauty while learning about its
ecological and historical significance. Preserved structures such as the
original barn, carriage house, smokehouse, and trout pond offer a glimpse into
the past.
The Garrison Springs Community Forest serves as a model for
other cities, showing how to balance environmental preservation with community
engagement. It offers valuable lessons on creating green spaces that connect
people with nature, educate them about the environment, and honor the history
of a region.
City of Dardenne Prairie (Medium
City, with population 5,000 – 15,000)
Inclusive Easter Egg Hunt
The city of Dardenne Prairie’s annual Easter Egg
Hunt has been a cherished tradition for nearly two decades, serving children
ages 0-8. Each year, volunteers from local groups—including Community Living,
senior housing, and nursing homes—contribute by stuffing over 15,000 eggs.
During a visit to Community Living, the City recognized the challenges
individuals with disabilities face in large-scale events and saw an opportunity
for greater inclusivity. In response, the City launched an Inclusive Easter Egg
Hunt in 2024, ensuring individuals of all abilities could participate in the
celebration.
The event featured modifications such as larger eggs tied to balloons for
individuals with mobility or dexterity issues and a designated, accessible hunt
site tailored for participants with diverse needs. Personalized accommodations
ensured an inclusive and enjoyable experience, marking a significant step in
fostering community engagement. The event’s success allowed individuals, including
adults, to participate for the first time, reinforcing the City’s commitment to
accessibility and inclusion. This initiative serves as a replicable model for
other municipalities seeking to create more inclusive community events.
City of Butler (Small
City, with population under 5,000)
Mock City Council
Last March the city of Butler and the Butler
High School Student Council joined forces and held a Mock City Council meeting.
The objective was to teach students involved in high school student government
about local city government and build a bridge with the city council and
younger citizens in the community. The high school students were given several
different scenarios about current topics that the city council is facing. The
students were assigned roles from the Mayor, council members, police chief, fire
chief, public works, city clerk, and city administrator. They met with the
actual people who hold those roles on staff and discussed the situations that
they face in the scenarios and what would be the best possible outcomes.
The staff also explained their roles to the
students and what they do daily. The council members and staff assumed the
roles as citizens that voice concerns about the different situations presented
to the students. Students walked through the start to finish of on actual city
council agenda with passing resolutions, ordinances and having a public forum
time for questions to the mock council.
The second part of this program is a service project with the students. This
year’s project was to clean up Butler’s historic square and pocket park. Another
major accomplishment from this project was forming a Student Advisory
Committee. This committee was formed to hear the voice of our younger
population. The committee meets once a month and is comprised of six student
leaders. The project is something other cities can truly invest in very easily
and an even deeper investment for the future of our young people.
About MML
The Missouri Municipal League provides a united voice for municipalities across
Missouri. Founded in 1934, MML now serves more than 650 municipalities with
training, resources and legislative advocacy for local government success.
Learn more at www.mocities.com.
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