City of Gadsden, Alabama

We are honored to be recognized for our efforts to improve civic engagement in our city! We love communicating with the people of Gadsden and all of our community’s stakeholders. #localgov #communication #pr #publicaffairs #govtech #outreach

Gadsden earns national award from government technology firm CivicPlus The City of Gadsden was named a finalist for the 2024 Civic Experience Awards presented by CivicPlus, a national government technology company. In 2023, the City of Gadsden undertook a major initiative to enhance community engagement and improve access to City services. Using the Municipal Websites and SeeClickFix 311 CRM solutions from CivicPlus?, the City updated its website to provide more accessible information, launched a new texting platform, and developed a custom-branded app called HeyGadsden. "It is an honor to see our public affairs team's hard work getting recognized on a national scale," said Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford. "When I took office two years ago, I said one of my top priorities was to define the narrative for Gadsden. To accomplish that, we gave our citizens more tools to make their voices heard. Now, everyday residents are helping us clean up our city by submitting issues in their neighborhoods and corresponding with the 'boots on the ground' to get the information they need. I want to thank the Gadsden city council for supporting these initiatives, the talented city employees who facilitate this work, and the residents of Gadsden for taking advantage of these tools!" The city's changes in its public affairs efforts stemmed from the “GROW Gadsden” plan, developed by extensive resident engagement, including over 2,000 participants in various meetings and surveys. The plan replaces a 45-year-old master plan and emphasizes a cleaner and better-maintained community. The implementation of a Municipal Website and SeeClickFix 311 CRM solutions from CivicPlus significantly improved the civic experience in Gadsden by bridging the gap between residents and government officials. Before leveraging CivicPlus, limited options for communication led to declining trust in the City, which had experienced consistent population decline since its peak in the 1960s. Once a regional hub for industrial innovation, several manufacturers had since shuttered their doors, resulting in a loss of economic opportunity and leaving the community with a fading civic identity. Now, increased transparency and direct engagement have enhanced trust and reliability in local government. The community has responded positively, with more residents participating in clean-up initiatives, serving on boards, and actively promoting the city of Gadsden, reflecting a strengthened sense of community involvement and partnership.

Mayor Ford recently joined a coalition of U.S. mayors advocating for federal investment in local parks. Gadsden recently benefitted from the ORLP program's $3 million greenway grant! #localgov #parks #grants #trails #urbanplanning #recreation

Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford announced the United States Department of the Interior has awarded the City of Gadsden $2.97 million from its Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program to develop the Downtown Gadsden Greenway. The city’s project is one of 54 projects selected nationwide from the $254 million program, and Gadsden’s is the only funded project in Alabama. This phase of the Downtown Gadsden Greenway project will be a multi-use urban nature trail constructed on a retired railbed that parallels Tuscaloosa Avenue and connects to the Black Creek Trail System. The city plans to acquire additional property along Black Creek to connect the Downtown Gadsden Greenway to the James D. Martin Wildlife Park located behind the Gadsden Mall, ultimately creating a trail loop around the city's urban core. “This is a game-changer for Gadsden,” said Ford. “Just six months ago, we approved the GROW Gadsden comprehensive plan, which included this proposed trail. Credit goes to my chief of staff, Brett Johnson, for advocating for this rails-to-trails project and to the entire team who worked tirelessly on this grant. I also want to thank the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and Director Kenneth Boswell for their support and belief in our project. Now, we are looking forward to breaking ground on the Downtown Gadsden Greenway!” This grant project will serve as the catalyst for the future phases of the Downtown Gadsden Greenway that will ultimately form a complete loop around the city’s urban core. With plans for a future pedestrian bridge across the Coosa River, the trail will also connect East Gadsden to Noccalula Falls for active transportation, pedestrian mobility, and outdoor recreation. Along the trail, residents will engage with diverse ecosystems, waterways, neighborhoods, sports parks, schools, public transportation facilities, community centers, grocery stores, and healthcare services. The grant will pay for up to 50 percent of the total estimated costs of the $5.99 million project, which includes an 8-foot-wide asphalt pathway, two trailhead facilities with parking areas, trailside facilities, gateway signage, kiosks, bridge safety reinforcement, removable bollards, security pedestals, sidewalk construction into adjacent neighborhoods, two timber overlook and resting stations, and ample pedestrian lighting throughout. The ORLP program, established in 2014, is a nationally competitive, dollar-for-dollar matching grant program that aids disadvantaged, urban communities that lack access to close-by outdoor recreation. The program provides grants for community-sponsored park projects where the population is greater than 30,000 residents. The program is managed by the National Parks Services and funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. #localgov #outdoorrec #recreation #trails #urbanplanning #citymanagement #grants

A great opportunity in ?? Gadsden, AL!

GROW Gadsden Plan, Mayor Ford selected for statewide planning awards On Monday, the City of Gadsden announced its selection for two statewide urban planning awards. Mayor Craig Ford received the Distinguished Leadership Award for an Elected Public Official, and the city’s GROW Gadsden Plan received the Outstanding Planning Award from the American Planning Association’s state chapter. The GROW Gadsden Plan, which was adopted unanimously by the city’s planning commission and the city council earlier this year, is the city’s third comprehensive plan in its 178-year history. The city offered a special thanks to its planning consultants at Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) for their efforts in developing the GROW Gadsden plan, which can be viewed at www.growgadsden.com. #localgov #urbanplanning #cityplanning #Alabama #citymanagement #communitydevelopment #economicdevelopment Etowah Chamber Gadsden Etowah Industrial Development Authority The Bama Buzz WBRC 6 News

Today, we take time to reflect and remember the thousands of Americans who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. ????

Another fun, free, family event in Gadsden, AL! ????

We are excited to give Gadsden youth a voice at the decision-making table! #localgov #youthvoice #civicengagement

More growth in Gadsden! ??