Three North Carolina Cities Celebrate National Honor

Three of the country's All-American Cities are in North Carolina. Thomasville, Garner and Dunn are among the 2013 All-American Cities.  Sunday, The National Civic League bestowed this title to these and seven other cities in the U.S. that the group says exemplify outstanding civic achievement.

Doug Croft is the president of the Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce. The city's population is 27,000. Croft credits a recent community project that helps homeless youth for winning the city this honor. "It's called Project Devine Interruption to help youth who are displaced," says Croft. "It provides cleaning kits, food, school supplies and even transportation to school so that children without a stable environment or without constant supervision can be on an even playing field as children within Thomasville city schools." According to Croft, this program helps about 100 students a year.

Since 1949, The National Civic League has given out this honor. Earlier this year, it selected Thomasville among 20 finalists. Over Father's Day weekend, delegations representing all of the cities were in Denver, Colorado making final pitches to a committee. Thomasville was a finalist in 2003 but didn't make the cut. Thomasville's delegation included city and business leaders, parents and homeless children. Croft says he believes the designation of All-American City will also make the Thomasville more attractive to prospective companies interested in establishing operations in the small city. "We know economic factors are important," says Croft. "But also those intangible ones including 'how does it feel' to live and do business in Thomasville, N.C." Croft says the city will get the official plaque in about a week. He also says new city signage with the new, national title will go up in a month.