Nominees must:

1. Be or be the owner or principal of a private for-profit company;
2. Have a history of development near major urban centers of employment, public transit and/or transportation hubs;
3. Conduct their business in a way that exemplifies the LOCUS mission.

Criteria

Recipients are determined by a five-member selection committee of industry peers that uses the following criteria to evaluate entries:

1. Outstanding quality of projects and services.Judges will consider the size, quality and sustainability of a nominee’s portfolio.
2. Active support of the industry through LOCUS or allied smart growth organizations. Nominee’s application should show how the company and employees are involved in LOCUS through the number of active LOCUS events or other sustainable smart growth affiliations.
3. Community Involvement and support for local, state, federal policies that promote greater vibrant walkable neighborhoods for all Americans. Nominee’s application  should detail the company’s charitable and philanthropic activities within their market.

Award Categories and Recipient Prizes

National Leadership Awards

• Company of the Year — This award is dedicated to companies that have a clear history of public leadership in supporting projects that transform the community, and create lasting value for the citizens who live there.
• Project of the Year  — This award goes to a project that represents the highest standard of achievement in the development industry. It recognizes a company or individual who has gone above and beyond good design to transform a community, create a lasting value for the citizens who live there, ensure environmental protection and enhancement, respond to societal needs, incorporate public/private partnerships, and achieve financial success.
• Richard Baron Award for Affordable Housing — This award is given to an outstanding developer working to build attainable housing and ensure equitable outcomes.

The recipient of the National Leadership Award will receive:

• Press release from LOCUS.
• Award presented at the annual National Leadership Summit (The company’s CEO or a senior executive is requested to accept the award and make a brief presentation about the award-winning project).
• Complimentary one year LOCUS Steering Committee membership (Receive all the benefits that LOCUS Steering Committee members receive).
• Featured in LOCUS’ monthly newsletter.
• Featured spotlight on locusdevelopers.org

Regional Leadership Awards

• Developer/Investor/Company of the Year — This award goes to a company or individual who has shown exceptional leadership in smart growth development by creating outstanding quality in projects and services, supporting the real estate industry through LOCUS or allied smart growth organizations, and advocating for local, state, federal policies that promote greater vibrant, walkable neighborhoods for all Americans.
• Project of the Year  — This award goes to a project that represents the highest standard of achievement in the development industry. It recognizes a company or individual who has gone above and beyond good design to transform a community, create a lasting value for the citizens who live there, ensure environmental protection and enhancement, respond to societal needs, incorporate public/private partnerships, and achieve financial success.

The recipient of the Regional Leadership Award will receive:

• Award presented at the annual Regional Leadership Summit (The company’s CEO or a senior executive is requested to accept the award and make a brief presentation about the award-winning project).
• Complimentary one year LOCUS Premier membership (Receive all the benefits that LOCUS Premier members receive).
• Featured in LOCUS’ monthly newsletter.
• Featured spotlight on locusdevelopers.org
• Automatic nomination to the LOCUS National Leadership Award.