MML Innovation Awards
Deadline Extended! Apply by April 1, 2023!
Nominating your municipality for the MML Innovation Award is easy and as simple as 1 - 2 - 3:
Step 1. Review the guidelines
Step 2. Review the evaluation criteria
Step 3. Fill out the application and submit it along with a project summary and project description and any additional material (videos, pictures, news clippings, etc.)
The information can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to: 2023 MML Innovation Award, Missouri Municipal League 1727 Southridge Dr., Jefferson City, Missouri 65109
About the MML Innovation Award Program
The Innovation Awards program showcases municipal programs or projects that have been successfully implemented and demonstrate new approaches for solving municipal challenges. It may also serve as a model for other communities. To enter, a municipality must be a member of the Missouri Municipal League. Only one program per city will be considered. Joint or multi-city projects are welcome (population category will be based on the largest city in the project). Nominated programs or projects must be completed or well established.
The awards will be given in five categories:
• Metro (population more than 30,000)
• Large (population 15,000 to 30,000)
• Medium (population 5,000 to 15,000)
• Small (population under 5,000)
• Member’s Choice (all nominees are eligible and all members are welcome to vote)
The MML Innovation Awards program showcases municipal projects that demonstrate new approaches for solving municipal challenges.The awards complement the League's goal of serving as a clearinghouse for municipal information. The awards recognize and celebrate successful programs, spotlighting those that could benefit other communities.
Congratulations to the 2022 MML Innovation Award Winners!
Metro (population greater than 30,000) and Member Choice
City of St. Peters
GOLD GROW Biosolids Compost
The City turns waste into “gold” for people’s lawns, gardens and for many of Missouri’s leading vineyards. The City of St. Peters Earth Centre is where the team combines biosolids from their wastewater treatment process with the yard waste collected from area residents to create a nutrient-rich, environmentally friendly soil amendment. Today, happy customers line up with trucks, trailers and buckets to enjoy Earth Centre’s award-winning GOLD GROW product at market rates. Biosolids composting reduces waste and associated costs, reduces the City’s carbon footprint, improves the quality of the soil and waterways, and helps manage storm water runoff.
Large City (population between 15,000-30,000)
City of Nixa
Sensory Path
In October 2021, Nixa unveiled a new sensory path at one of the city parks. The sensory path was designed to provide those with sensory needs a quieter space. Since the path was being created in a park that already had walking paths but could not have traditional playground equipment the construction cost less than $1,200 and The Nixa Community Foundation provided a grant to help add the path to the park. The attendance within this park grew dramatically as people took advantage of the new activities. The activities can be implemented anywhere a hard surface exists or is created, as they are simply spray painted on the path and small signs are installed to give simple instruction.
Medium City (population between 5,000-15,000)
City of Willard
Jackson Street Park Solar Project
This project will remove common barriers to extended time in outdoor spaces by utilizing solar energy to power USB charging stations in outdoor spaces difficult to reach by conventional methods. Quick and easy access to charging stations for cell phones, tablets, and laptops provides the opportunity for extended play time without the fear of a dead cell phone battery and helps to move the office outdoors. Willard Parks and Recreation in partnership with NewTek Energy, LLC, has multiple features including emergency lights, call stations, and security cameras, as well as charging stations for cell phones and laptops.
Small City (population less than 5,000)
Campbell
The Downtown Project
With a deteriorating downtown area, loss of identity, and disinvestment in the city, there were 16 vacant buildings in the downtown area of the City in early 2017. It was then the City, in cooperation with the Campbell Downtown Development Corporation, and local businesses came together to revitalize the downtown area. The City implemented a five-year plan that has resulted in re-establishing the downtown area as a center of activity. The Downtown Project has been successful in that most every downtown building has been completely remodeled and occupied. The success of The Downtown Project has resulted in increased foot traffic, employment, and sales tax due to new businesses and activities.
Summaries of Projects and Programs
2022 Innovation Award Summaries
2021 Innovation Award Summaries
2020 Innovation Award Summaries
2019 Innovation Award Summaries
2018 Innovation Award Summaries
2017 Innovation Award Summaries
2016 Innovation Award Summaries
2015 Innovation Award Summaries
2014 Innovation Award Summaries
2013 Innovation Award Summaries
Innovation Award Database Viewer