The Cuyahoga Land Bank recently was named a semifinalist in Harvard University’s 2017 Innovations in American Government Awards competition.  The Awards are presented annually by The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.  The Cuyahoga Land Bank is one of 100 programs named as semifinalists that will compete to be named a Finalist in the competition and have the chance to be awarded the $100,000 grand prize in Cambridge this spring.

The Cuyahoga Land Bank advanced from a pool of more than 500 applications from all 50 states, and was selected by the Innovations Award evaluators as examples of novel and effective action whose work has had significant impact, and who they believe can be replicated across the country and the world.

“These programs demonstrate that there are no prerequisites for doing the good work of governing,” said Stephen Goldsmith, director of the Innovations in American Government Program at the Ash Center. “Small towns and massive cities, huge federal agencies and local school districts, large budgets or no budgets at all — what makes government work best is the drive to do better, and this group proves that drive can be found anywhere.”

“We are thrilled to be named a semifinalist in this year’s Innovations in American Government Awards competition,” said Gus Frangos, President and General Counsel of the Cuyahoga Land Bank.  “The Cuyahoga Land Bank has not only been an important stabilization response to the foreclosure crisis in the region, but also a strategic redevelopment catalyst for the future of Cuyahoga County.  We are honored to be recognized alongside such a prominent group of organizations and governments making a significant impact in their communities.”

Visit the Government Innovators Network HERE for the full list of semifinalists, and for more information regarding the Innovations in American Government Awards.