Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence

Purpose: Honors and celebrates significant places of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and recognizes excellence in advancing the goals of the Erie Canalway Preservation and Management Plan.

Geographic Scope: Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor (500+ miles across New York State)

What's Eligible:
The award celebrates place first and recognizes activities, projects, and people who have made places great. May include:

• Preservation of historic or cultural resources
• Festivals or events
• Community art projects
• Hospitality programs
• Greening or conservation efforts
• Other unique projects advancing Corridor goals

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicant Type: Municipalities, community groups, private entities, non-profit organizations. Multiple parties in collaborative or regional projects encouraged.
• Place Requirements: Must have been in existence and open to the public for at least one year
• Project Status: Projects must be complete; project work being recognized must be finished (plans alone do not qualify)
• Self-Nomination: Yes, applicants can nominate their own sites
• Scale: Large and smaller projects both welcome

Award Alignment with Preservation & Management Plan Goals:

• The Corridor's historic and distinctive sense of place will be widely expressed and consistently protected
• The Corridor's natural resources will reflect the highest standards of environmental quality
• The Corridor's recreation opportunities will achieve maximum scope and diversity, in harmony with heritage resource protection
• Current and future generations will value and support preservation of heritage
• Economic growth and heritage development will be balanced and self-sustaining
• The Corridor will be a "must do" travel experience for regional, national, and international visitors

Benefits of Designation:

• Recognition plaque
• Statewide and regional media releases
• Written case study describing place and protective/showcase actions
• Listing on Erie Canalway website of Best Practices
• Enhanced visibility and pride

Selection Process:

• Multidisciplinary jury with expertise in planning, historic preservation, communications, tourism, and community renewal
• Three finalists selected for site visits
• One finalist selected as winner (Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence)
• Two finalists recognized with Honorable Mention
• Awards formally announced at Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission meeting

Jury Note: Judges are not assumed to be familiar with your site; applications should be comprehensive.

Heritage Award Application Process

Application Deadline: Applications accepted on rolling basis (historical deadline was February 28, 2020)

Submission Instructions:

1. Download the Heritage Award Overview for more information
2. Applications must be submitted using the forms and format provided online
3. Online application cannot be saved in progress
4. Recommendation: Complete answers in Word document, then copy into online form
5. Applications judged on quality, not volume—respect word limits
6. Include at least one photograph depicting the place being nominated
7. Include map, brochure, or other documentation if relevant

Required Information:

Project/Place Information:

• Project name
• Street address, city, zip code
• Date initiated
• Project completion date (must be complete and open to public for at least 1 year)
• Project development cost
• Annual operating budget

Applicant Information:

• Applicant name
• Applicant title
• Applicant organization
• Complete address
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Organization website
• How you heard about the award

Key Participants:

• Name, organization, role, telephone, email

Use of Materials Agreement:

• Grant permission for Erie Canalway to use, reproduce, and make available application materials
• Warrant full power and authority to submit application and grant rights
• Electronic signature and date

Narrative Questions (Word Limits):

1. Abstract (max 350 words): Brief overview of project
2. Project Goals (max 100 words): List main goals
3. Merit Statement (max 500 words): Why project merits award. Consider:
   • Impact on local community and Canalway Corridor as whole
   • Innovative or unique approaches to advancing Preservation & Management Plan
4. What Makes the Place Great (max 150 words): Describe what is unique about it
5. Challenges Faced (max 150 words): What obstacles encountered? What significant tradeoffs required?
6. Local Issues Addressed (max 150 words): How affected local community?
7. Development Process (max 100 words): Key elements including community participation
8. Financing and Funding Sources: List all sources
9. Five-Year Evolution (max 200 words): How will project evolve? What challenges to continued success?
10. Lessons Learned (max 200 words): What lessons applicable to other settings/communities in Corridor?
11. Awareness Raising (max 150 words): What measures taken to raise awareness about project or lessons learned?
12. Other Awards: Has project received honorary awards? List name and date.

Required Attachments:

• Photo (max 2MB) - Required
• Supporting documents combined into single PDF: brochures, maps, interpretive signage, testimonials, etc.