MRPC News Release
Nov. 25, 2005
For Immediate Release:
Bonnie Prigge or Tammy Snodgrass; 573-265-2993
USDA, Meramec Regional Planning Commission Receive the
National Association of Development Organization’s 2005 Innovation Award
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Meramec Regional Planning Commission based in St. James, MO, in partnership with the Missouri State office of the USDA Rural Development, received a 2005 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for their Illegal Dump Cleanup and Adopt-A-Dump Program. The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District was also a partner in the project.
NADO, a Washington, D.C. based public interest group, recognizes organizations for demonstrating innovative approaches to economic and community development. NADO awarded 64 innovation awards this year for a variety of projects in areas such as aging, entrepreneurialism, emergency management, environment, healthcare, literacy, workforce, technology, tourism and transportation planning. Awardees were showcased during NADO’s Annual Training Conference, August 27—30, 2005 in Seattle, Washington.
Richard Cavender, executive director of MRPC and member of NADO, presented USDA with its award plaque during a hearing on the farm bill, held in Springfield on Nov. 4. Accepting the USDA award was US. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Greg Branum, state director for USDA in Missouri. Cavender is an active member of NADO and a former president.
The goal of the illegal dumping program is educate area residents on the potential of drinking water contamination because of illegal dumping and mobilize volunteers and agencies to cleanup illegal dumps. Illegal dumping is an issue in Missouri’s Meramec Region because of its karst topography and abundance of waterways. The extent of the problem was unknown until MRPC partnered with the local solid waste district using USDA funding to identify illegal dumps. Another USDA grant funded an education and clean up campaign. An adopt-a-dump program and publicized cleanup days increased public interest.
MRPC planned to clean up three dumpsites. In all, 16 of the 69 identified illegal dumpsites were cleaned with some 400 volunteers removing over 245 tons of trash. Some 1,163 tires and 32 tons of metal were recycled.
“The interest and enthusiasm for this project was overwhelming,” said Cavender. “Once people understood the gravity of the situation, they volunteered time, equipment and money to correct it. We appreciate USDA’s investment in the project, and hope to work with them in the future to further the effort.”
According to NADO President Jack Scriber, director of Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency in Louisville, Kentucky, “These award winning projects and programs truly represent the community and the economic development benefits derived from acting regionally, especially in rural communities where resources are often sparse.”
Over 750 Innovation Awards have been made since the program was started in 1986. Only NADO member organizations are eligible to apply for the award. NADO, established in 1967, continues to be the nation's leading advocate for a regional approach to development. NADO member organizations serve over 1,800 counties and 15,000 cities and towns.
Richard Cavender, executive director of Meramec Regional Planning Commission, at right, presents a 2005 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations to Greg Branum, state director of the Missouri office USDA Rural Development (center) and Mike Johanns, Secretary of the United State Department of Agriculture. A regional illegal dumping clean-up project, coordinated by MRPC and funded by USDA, was selected for national recognition through NADO’s awards program.