Petaluma Vies For All-America City Award

PETALUMA, CA—The city of Petaluma has been chosen as a finalist for the All-America City Award.

For over 75 years, the award from the National Civic League has recognized communities that leverage civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation to successfully address local issues.

"Communities thrive when all residents have a voice in the policies and decisions that shape their lives," said Doug Linkhart, president of the National Civic League. "This year’s finalists are leading the way by removing barriers to participation and implementing programs that foster sustainability, resilience, and inclusive engagement."

This year’s 20 finalists span 12 states and include cities large and small—each chosen through a competitive review process led by an independent panel of experts. Applications were evaluated on the criteria of shared vision, civic engagement, inclusiveness and equity, collaboration, innovation and impact.

Petaluma’s application highlighted the city’s strong commitment to community-driven climate action and inclusive civic engagement. Through partnerships with organizations such as Daily Act’s Petaluma Equitable Climate Action Coalition and the American Institute of Architects Communities by Design Sustainable Design Assistance Team, Petaluma has developed a collaborative vision of becoming a connected, sustainable city where every resident enjoys a high quality of life. Efforts such as re-envisioning the Petaluma Fairgrounds further demonstrate the power of actively involving residents from all backgrounds to drive transformative change.

"We could not be more #Petalumaproud of Petaluma’s recognition as an All-America City at a time when the importance of good government is so much in the spotlight," said Mayor Kevin McDonnell. "This is a tremendous honor, not just for our city, but for all of us who call Petaluma home and contribute to the fabric of our exceptional community."

The only other finalist from California is the Western Riverside Council of Governments. The recognition highlights WRCOG’s commitment to inclusive engagement and environmental sustainability across the subregion’s 18 cities, the county of Riverside, and several special districts.

During the next stage of the competition—the All-America City Award Event June 27-29 in Denver, Colorado—finalists present their stories of success and showcase the impact of their initiatives. Following the presentations, the winners will be announced at a culminating ceremony.

"For 19 years Daily Acts has been blessed to partner with the City and this incredible community on innovative climate, water, and sustainability programs that show what’s possible through the power of working together," said Trathen Heckman, Daily Acts’ executive director. "It’s incredible to see in the last 6 years how this community has rallied around bold, collaborative climate action and it’s an honor to represent so much good work by so many Petalumans this summer in Denver at the All-America City Awards Competition."

Here is the full list of 2025 finalists:

• Austin, Texas
• Carrboro, North Carolina
• Chelsea, Massachusetts
• Delray Beach, Florida
• Denver, Colorado
• Fort Collins, Colorado
• Hampton, Virginia
• Jacksonville, North Carolina
• Kinston, North Carolina
• Leominster, Massachusetts
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Petaluma, California
• Port St. Lucie, Florida
• Seattle, Washington
• Snyder, Texas
• Statesboro, Georgia
• Tallahassee, Florida
• Western Riverside Region, California