FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Rick Joyce, Lee County Community Development Department
                (941) 479-8182

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 19, 2000) – Lee County Government is seeking nominations for its new "Award of Excellence," which recognizes private-sector projects that go above and beyond minimum code requirements in ensuring development maintains and improves our quality of life.

The Board of Lee County Commissioners recently created the award as a way to showcase a select group of projects each year and recognize local businesses and groups that make an extra effort to keep Lee County beautiful, livable and environmentally sustainable.

Anyone can nominate a project and it only takes a minute. Just request or pick up a nomination form from Lee County’s Community Development Department (479-8585), 1500 Monroe Street in downtown Fort Myers. The form asks for only five quick items of information. Once the county receives a nomination, it will send an application to the nominated business or group.

Nominations are being accepted through January 15, 2001. Projects eligible for the 2000 Award must have been completed between December 1, 1999 and November 30, 2000. Judging is by a five-member selection committee of three private sector and two public sector representatives.

Winners will be announced early in 2001, publicized through the local media, given a prestigious sign to place at the project, and receive individual plaques with a combined plaque displayed prominently in a designated county building.

The nominated projects should include excellence in at least one or more of the following general list of environmental and design criteria:

Architectural Design, Connection to Community, Energy Efficient Design, Historic Preservation, Landscape Design, Native Plants, Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities, Recycling, Technology Advancement, Restoration of Plant Communities, Roadway Design, Water Conservation and Design, Water Quality Improvements, or Wildlife Habitat Value.