Paducah Listed as One of America's Best Small Town Comebacks

In March 2013, CNN Travel showcased eight small historic cities that have been rebounding.  Paducah was listed as a "small town with big art".  The article featured the artist relocation program through the Main Street Department (Paducah Renaissance Alliance) and the LowerTown Arts and Music Festival.  Other towns listed in the article are Coronado, CA; New Iberia, LA; Frederick, MD; Ely, NV; DeLand, FL; Libertyville, IL; and El Dorado, AR.     CNN America's Best Small Town Comebacks Article >> 

 2013 Paducah Sun Reader's Choice Awards

For the second year in a row, the Paducah Sun asked readers to nominate people, places, etc. for specific categories.  Paducah won two awards:  Best Golf Course for Paxton Park and Best Playground Indoor-Outdoor for Noble Park.  Noble Park was a finalist for Best Family Value and for Best Place to Hike.  Downtown Paducah was a finalist for Best Family Attraction.  Paducah Power System's Christmas in the Park at Noble Park was Best Local Holiday Tradition with the Christmas Parade coming in second place. 

 Paducah Parks Services Department Receives Two Awards through KY Recreation & Park Society

The Paducah Parks Services Department took home two awards at the Kentucky Recreation & Park Society annual conference held November 12-14, 2012 in Frankfort.  The department was honored with the Outstanding Department Award and the Outstanding Program Award for Bikes on Broadway.  Paducah News Release & Photo >>     KRPS Outstanding Program News Release >>     KRPS Outstanding Department News Release >>

Kentucky League of Cities Recognizes Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Program of Paducah-McCracken County 

The Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) honored the City of Paducah by naming the Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Program of Paducah-McCracken County as an Enterprise Cities Award runner-up in the more than 15,000 population category.  The City was honored during the KLC Annual Conference and Expo in Lexington, Kentucky on October 12, 2012.  The Enterprise Cities Awards go to municipalities in four population categories that have demonstrated entrepreneurship, innovation, and excellence in local governance.  As a runner-up, Paducah will receive $250 to be used toward the intervention program.     Paducah News Release >>     KLC News Release >>

 Paducah Selected as Top Retirement Destination

The September/October 2012 issue of Where to Retire magazine profiles Paducah in its feature story, "15 Low-Cost Towns".  Where to Retire editor Mary Lu Abbott said Paducah possesses qualities important to today's retirees.  "With below-average living costs, affordable homes, and low taxes, these 15 towns let your retirement dollars go further."  Paducah is considered as a four-season locale that has rich history and plenty of outdoor opportunities.

 Harvard University Recognizes City of Paducah Tree Voucher Program as Bright Idea in Government

In September 2012, the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University recognized the City of Paducah’s Tree Voucher Program as one of its Bright Ideas in Government.  The Tree Voucher Program is one of 111 innovative government initiatives evaluated and selected by a team of policy experts from academic and public sectors. The Tree Voucher Program was launched in March 2009 following the devastating January 2009 ice storm.   Paducah News Release >>     Harvard News Release >> 

 Governor's Occupant Protection Enforcement Award for Officer Melissa Dillon

Paducah Police Officer Melissa Dillon was honored July 26, 2012 in Lexington, Kentucky during the annual Governor's Occupant Protection Enforcement Awards Ceremony.  Dillon issued the second-highest number of seat belt violation citations in her division.  Divisions are determined by department size.  Dillon issued 858 seat belt/child restraint/booster seat citations during the counting period, June 16, 2011 – June 15, 2012.  In all, Paducah Police Department officers issued 3,327 citations for those offenses during the counting period.

 Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

Paducah has been awarded the 21st consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).  The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.  The award recognizes the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).  This 21st award recognizes the CAFR for the fiscal year that eneded June 30, 2011.     Certificate of Achievement News Release >>

 Fire Chief Steve Kyle Receives Fire Chief of the Year Award

During the opening ceremony at the 83^rd Annual Kentucky Homeland Security Conference and State Fire School held Friday, June 8, 2012, Paducah Fire Chief Steve Kyle received the Fire Chief of the Year Award through the Kentucky Association of Fire Chiefs (KAFC).  Selection criteria for the award emphasize leadership, innovation, professional development, integrity, service to the public, and contributions to the fire service as a whole.  The City of Paducah hired Steve Kyle as battalion chief/fire marshal in 1998.  With the retirement of Chief Redell Benton in 2008, Kyle was appointed to acting chief.  In January 2009, Kyle was officially promoted to fire chief.     News Release >>

 Paducah Receives Several 2012 Reader's Choice Awards

In February 2012 the Paducah Sun newspaper asked people to nominate people, places, etc. for specific categories.  Paducah won several awards including Best Bike Path for Noble Park (finalist was Greenway Trail); Best Place to Jog for Noble Park (runner-up was Greenway Trail with Downtown as finalist); Best Local Holiday Tradition for Lights in the Park at Noble Park (Christmas Parade was runner-up); Runner-up for Best Playground at Noble Park; Paxton Park runner-up for best golf course and finalist for best driving range; Stuart Nelson Park runner-up for Best Place to Hike with Noble Park as a finalist; Best Annual Festival for BBQ on the River (Dogwood Festival was a finalist); Best Entertainment Value for Noble Park; and of course, Paducah was the winner for Best Town to Live.

Paducah Receives Kentucky Cultural District Certification

In a presentation in Frankfort on February 9, 2012, Paducah received the Kentucky Cultural District Certification award presented by First Lady Jane Beshear and Madeline Abramson, wife of Lt. Governor Jerry Abramson on behalf of the Kentucky Arts Council.  The certification of Paducah and four other communities in Kentucky were selected by an independent panel of reviewers from a pool of 26 applicants.  The Cultural District Certification program, administered by the Kentucky Arts Council, is designed to encourage community engagement and partnerships that facilitate the stimulation and promotion of local cultural, economic, community, tourism and social assets.  Paducah Renaissance Alliance spear-headed the application process.  PRA News Release >>     KY Arts Council News Release >>

Commonwealth's Top 10 Festivals & Events for Spring 2012

The Kentucky Tourism Industry Association (KTIA) selected the 28th Annual Quilt Show and the LowerTown Art and Music Festival as two of the Commonwealth’s Top 10 Festivals & Events for Spring 2012.  The Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) nominates the City’s festivals through a quarterly submission process.  In addition to bragging rights, winners enjoy the added publicity and media exposure provided by KTIA, which includes an article in Kentucky Monthly magazine announcing all of the season winners.  CVB News Release >>

 Your City at Work Receives Silver Medallion Award

West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) is the recipient of several awards from the National Conference for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR).  One of the awards is for the City of Paducah television program Your City at Work.  The episode Your City at Work: Barkley Regional Airport received a Silver Medallion Award from NCMPR, the second highest award in the College Video Program category.  News Release >> 

 Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

Paducah has been awarded the 20th consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).  The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.  The award recognizes the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).  This 20th award recognizes the CAFR for the fiscal year that eneded June 30, 2010.

 Paducah Named One of Best Communities for Young People

On October 12, 2011, Paducah officially achieved national recognition as one of America's Promise Alliance's 100 Best Communities for Young People presented by ING.  The competition recognizes communities across the country that focus on reducing high school dropout rates and providing service and support to their youth.  News Release >>  To read more about Paducah's achievement, click America's Promise.

WKCTC Named One of Top 5 Community Colleges

In April 2011, West Kentucky Community and Technical College was selected by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program as one of the nation’s 120 best community colleges, the top 10 percent in the country.     News Release >>   But it gets better.  In September 2011, WKCTC was named one of the ten finalist community colleges by the Aspen Institute.  News Release >>  Don't stop reading, there's more.  In December, WKCTC was named as one of the top 5 colleges.  News Release >> 

Governor's Awards in the Arts for National Quilt Museum and Steven Curtis Chapman

In August 2011 the National Quilt Museum of the United States received the Community Arts Award through the Kentucky Arts Council's Governor's Awards in the Arts.  The award recognizes a Kentucky individual or organization that has made a positive impact on the community through the Arts.

Paducah native and contemporary gospel musician Steven Curtis Chapman received the National Award.     News Release from KY Arts Council >>

Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber of the Year Award

In August 2011, the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce received 2011 Chamber of the Year award.     News Release >>

Paducah Selected as One of Top Retirement Cities

In August 2011, Paducah was selected by "Where to Retire" magazine as one of eight top retirement towns.  The article "8 Enticing Money-Saver Towns" is in the September/October issue of the magazine.

Paducah Named a Time Warp Town 

Paducah is one of nine "Time Warp Towns" in America. The announcement was made Friday, March 18 on Yahoo! Travel and provided by CNBC. Time Warp Towns are those out-of-time discoveries that make for road trip gold such as downtowns with antiques booth malls, town squares, monuments, cobblestones, and/or apple pie! The focus is to pick spots where the buildings where the local history was made are still standing and the town has enough points of interest to merit a visit.     News Release >>

2011 Distinctive Destination and Fan Favorite  

On February 15, 2011, Paducah, Kentucky was named a 2011 Distinctive Destination by the National Trust for Historic Preservation®.  Paducah was nominated by the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau for its rich heritage, vibrant historic districts and its commitment to celebrating its past and culture.     News Release >> 

From February 15 to March 15, votes were accepted at the National Trust for Historic Preservation® website to select Paducah as the Fan Favorite.  Paducah won thanks to a wonderful turnout of online voters.  News Release >>  

One of Five Most Romantic Main Streets

On February 10, 2011, Paducah was named one of the five Most Romantic Main Streets as the result of an online photo submission contest conducted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.     News Release >> 

Enterprise City Award 

On September 17, 2010, the Kentucky League of Cities honored Paducah with an Enterprise Cities Award for its Tree Voucher Program.  The program, implemented after the January 2009 ice storm, allowed city residents to obtain a voucher for $25 off a tree from participating nurseries.     --News Release--

Pictured from left to right:  KLC President Elaine Walker, Planner Ben Peterson, City Commissioner Gerald Watkins, Planning Director Steve Ervin, and KLC Acting Executive Director Neil Hackworth.

Golden Eagle Award 

On September 17, 2010, the Kentucky League of Cities Insurance Services division presented Paducah with the Golden Eagle award for receiving a perfect loss control law enforcement scorecard of 100%.     --News Release-- 

Pictured from left to right: KLC Acting Executive Director Neil Hackworth, City Commissioner Gerald Watkins, KLC President Elaine Walker, Police Chief James Berry, Captain Brian Krueger, and KLC Law Enforcement Specialist Mark Filburn.

Risk Management Award

On September 17, 2010, the Kentucky League of Cities Insurance Services division presented Paducah with an award for receiving a 100% score on its risk management scorecard.  This score can lead to a lower insurance premium cost.     --News Release--

Pictured from left to right:  KLC Acting Executive Director Neil Hackworth, City Commissioner Gerald Watkins, and KLC President Elaine Walker.

Kentucky Health Hero Award

On September 14, 2010, Commissioner Gayle Kaler accepted the Kentucky Health Hero award for the City of Paducah.  The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky recognizes Paducah for its efforts to help people stay fit and active through programs and projects such as the sidewalk and bike plan, Bikes on Broadway, employee wellness plan, and the Farmers' Market.     --News Release--

Photo is from Bikes on Broadway.  

Great American Main Street Award

A public reception was held May 7, 2010 at the downtown Paducah gazebo to honor ten prominent community leaders who made it possible for the Paducah Renaissance Alliance to be awarded a 2010 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA).  The National Trust for Historic Preservation presented the national award to Paducah on May 4 at the National Main Streets Conference.  The award was based on the accomplishments made in revitalizing the historic downtown and the LowerTown Arts District since Paducah's Main Street program was established in 1989.  Gallery of photos from public reception >>     News Release >>     Downtown-LowerTown Video >>

Pictured:  Monica Bilak former Development Manager with Paducah Renaissance Alliance