Recognizing contributions of individuals, agencies, organizations, local governments, or private companies within the State of Alabama who have completed outstanding programs or projects or have made notable contributions to the planning profession.

Awards Notification and Recognition

The Alabama Chapter American Planning Association (ALAPA) announces its 2024 Awards Program to be held in conjunction with the joint Alabama-Mississippi Chapter Conference at a time and place to be named.

Award recipients, along with the nominators, will be notified of the award selection in advance of the annual meeting. We ask that award recipients make every effort to be present to receive the awards at the Awards Ceremony. The award recipients will be provided an opportunity to make some brief remarks following a presentation of the award nomination by the Awards Committee.

Award Categories

Distinguished Leadership Awards
  • Kenneth J. Groves Jr., Professional Planner
  • Richard L. Platt Career Achievement Award
  • Distinguished Leadership Award for an Appointed Public Official
  • Distinguished Leadership Award for an Elected Public Official
  • Distinguished Leadership Award for a Planning Student Team
  • Distinguished Leadership Award for a Planning Student
  • Dr. Robert J. Juster, Friend of Planning
  • Chapter Leadership Award
    Outstanding Planning Awards
    • Outstanding Media Coverage Award
    • Outstanding Planning Award for a Comprehensive Plan for Communities with a Population Under 50,000
    • Outstanding Planning Award for a Comprehensive Plan for Communities with a Population 50,000 or More
    • Outstanding Planning Award for a Plan or Planning Program for Communities with a Population under 50,000
    • Outstanding Planning Award for a Plan or Planning Program for Communities with a Population 50,000 or More
    • Outstanding Planning Award for Project or Implementation Tool 
    • Franklin M. Setzer Outstanding Urban Design Project Award

    Nominating Process

    The Chapter Awards Committee would like to announce that nominations for the 2024 Awards Program are now being accepted.  The deadline for accepting nominations is Friday, July 19, 2024 at 5 p.m. CST. The Awards Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Joint Alabama-Mississippi Chapter Conference on October 16-18, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

    Please review the Awards Program Categories and Nominations Criteria carefully (linked below).  It contains nomination submission information and contacts for questions.

    The Awards Committee encourages anyone who knows of any worthy persons, projects, programs or plans to give serious consideration to submitting a nomination for this year’s awards program.  The awards program information including the awards categories, nomination criteria and submission information is available in the Awards Program Categories and Nomination Criteria

    VIEW AND DOWNLOAD THE NOMINATION CRITERIA AND PROCESS