Harlingen wins All-America City award for second time in 35 years
HARLINGEN - For the second time in nearly 35 years, Harlingen has won the All-America City Award.
On Sunday night, the National Civic League bestowed the national recognition honor based on Harlingen's work in strengthening the community, including giving residents a bigger voice in government, helping them with housing and bolstering small businesses.
In a ceremony in Denver, Harlingen was one of 10 cities to win the award out of 20 finalists.
This year, the award's theme was "America at 250 - Strengthening Civic Health and Building Trust."
"This year, 10 communities were recognized for their efforts to strengthen civic health and build trust, and for their civic infrastructure - the network of relationships, partnerships and capacities driving effective decision-making and problem-solving," the National Civic League wrote on its website.
"These communities are models of what civic health looks like in practice - neighbors building trust across difference, institutions opening doors to real participation and communities choosing to face their challenges together," Doug Linkhart, the National Civic League's president, said. "That is exactly the spirit America's 250th anniversary calls us to celebrate."
The award marked the second time the National Civic League has recognized Harlingen.
In 1992, the city, under then-Mayor Bill Card's administration, won the award based in part on the city's volunteer spirit.
"Harlingen, Texas, spent the past decade rebuilding residents' confidence that their input actually matters by putting transparency and resident voice at the center of how it governs and grows," the National Civic League said.
"Residents who were once skeptical that public input shaped outcomes now see their priorities reflected in a coordinated 10-year planning system, built through community meetings, workshops, surveys and bilingual, neighborhood-level outreach designed to reach those historically left out," organizers said.
A bicyclist rides along the sidewalk Wednesday, April 8, 2026, near Jackson Avenue in downtown Harlingen. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)
As part of the award, National Civic League also recognized the city's schools, colleges and workforce programs.
"The same commitment extends to the city's young people, with schools, colleges and workforce institutions co-developing clearer pathways from classroom to career," organizers said.
As part of its recognition, the National Civic League pointed to the city's Economic Development Corporation's grant program aimed at helping small businesses along with its community development program.
"Trust shapes economic development, too," organizers said. "Through the Revitalize Harlingen Program, small businesses receive matching grants of up to $10,000 for storefront and site improvements while residents guide public funding decisions for infrastructure, housing and neighborhoods through the Community Development Block Grant process. Across all of it, trust is being rebuilt as residents can trace their input to visible outcomes."
Since 1949, the National Civic League has recognized cities embodying America's spirit.
This year, organizers distinguished cities demonstrating "the strength of democracy depends on engaged residents who are invested in shaping the future of the places they call home," Linkhart said earlier this year after the National Civic League selected its 20 finalists through "a rigorous application process, with an external review committee carefully assessing each community."
A Union Pacific train passes through a railroad crossing near the intersection of Commerce Street and Jackson Avenue in downtown Harlingen on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)
"As the nation marks 250 years since its founding, these communities are proving that civic health is improved block by block, through trust, belonging and the collective power of people working together," Linkhart said at the time.
In selecting this year's winners, the National Civic League recognized cities for their work "to strengthen civic health and build trust," organizers said.
Along with Harlingen, organizers gave the award to the cities of Chelsea, Massachusetts; Franklin, Tennessee; Montgomery, Alabama; Morrisville, North Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; North Charleston, South Carolina; Riviera Beach, Florida; Roanoke, Virginia and Woodburn, Oregon.
In the Rio Grande Valley, cities which have previously won the award include Edinburg, Brownsville, Hidalgo, McAllen, Mission, Pharr and Weslaco.
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