Mayor Allen Joines Receives Awards from Two State Organizations

Mayor Joines has been recognized by two statewide organizations for his work in rebuilding the economy of his community, in developing programs to promote racial healing by creating the Mayor's Committee to Promote Racial Healing, and for supporting strong urban planning principals.

On August 30, 2007, Mayor Joines received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arthritis Foundation of North Carolina in recognition of his successful efforts in transitioning Winston-Salem from a manufacturing economy to one that is based on knowledge industries.  When Joines was elected in 2001, the growth of the city's tax base was at less than one percent per year and job growth was stagnant.

Based on a number of economic initiatives implemented by the City of Winston-Salem, the tax base has grown at a rate over three percent annually for the past two years.  Annual job growth has exceeded two percent, led by the recruitment of a $186 million Dell Computer facility and the 220 acre Piedmont Triad Research Park.  In addition, a new downtown-based baseball stadium and mixed use project is underway with a potential private sector investment of $250 million.

Along with the City Council Members, Mayor Joines began a Talk of the Town program to meet with citizens in each of the eight wards on an annual basis to discuss their concerns.

On September 28, 2007, Mayor Joines received the Marvin Collins Distinguished Leadership Award from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association.  The award recognizes Joines for being a champion of good community planning and for "significantly advancing the improvement and vitality of the City of Winston-Salem and contributing to the achievement of many of the community's planning goals.  Thanks to his efforts, the future of this community is something that many people are excited about."