For Immediate Release 
November 26, 2007                     

Luckie Strategic PR Media Contacts:
Jim Taylor, Luckie PR (205) 877-9755, jim.taylor@luckie.com 
Mariesa Woodring, Luckie PR (205) 877-9705, mariesa.woodring@luckie.com 
Leigh Anne Monitor, Luckie PR (205) 877-9795, leighanne.monitor@luckie.com

HOOVER WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD
Environmental Management Practices among the Best in the World

Hoover, Ala. — The City of Hoover is honored to announce it is a winner in an international competition recognizing livable communities and excellence in environmental management. This is the first time a city in Alabama has been so highly praised for its living conditions and positive ecological impact.

Hoover received a silver award in The International Awards for Livable Communities, in a category of cities with populations of 20,001 to 75,000. The winners of the LivCom contest, livcomawards.com/media-2007/finalists.htm, were announced today in Westminster, London. Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos is in London where he competed on behalf of the City, against St. Cloud, Minnesota, Fayetteville, Arkansas and seven other cities from Australia, the Czech Republic, Albania, Bulgaria, England, Russia and Lithuania.

Hoover’s many achievements include:

·         Remaining a model city in Alabama for its efforts preserving and conserving nature

·         School system nationally recognized for ethnic diversity and excellence in education

·         Well-established culture of volunteerism and community involvement

·         Heritage conservation programs 

·         Alternative fuel initiatives -- such as powering 85% of the City’s police vehicles on ethanol 85, the highest percentage in the country, and running most of the City’s other 326 vehicles on B20 or B100

Speaking from London just after receiving this award, Mayor Petelos said, “This is a great day for The City of Hoover. We are truly honored.  In just four short decades, together our citizens have built a beautiful, strong, and growing community that we are all proud to call home.  And being internationally recognized for our hard work is deeply rewarding and a truly historical benchmark on our 40th anniversary.”

The City’s next project will be the clean up and preservation of close to 250 acres of green space, to ensure Hoover maintains natural environments for residents and visitors to enjoy for years to come. The land is divided into three areas across the City, that when finished will include managed forests, scenic hiking trails, areas to watch wildlife, and a public greenway connecting neighborhoods with nearby shopping areas. Two tracts of land were donated by developers and one was recently purchased by the City for 4.1 million dollars.

For more information call (205) 444-7588 or visit hooveral.org.

The City of Hoover, founded by William Hoover in the late 1950s, grew rapidly after Interstate 65 (Alabama's primary North-South artery) and Interstate 459 were constructed; by 1986, the $300 million Riverchase Galleria was constructed. The city’s population exceeds 65,000 and continues to grow, blending Southern rolling hills with large corporations, businesses and residential developments.

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