In a bid to foster community spirit and acknowledge unheralded local heroes, the clock is ticking for residents of Duluth to put forth names for the upcoming Good Neighbor Award. According to a recent social media post by the City of Duluth, MN Government, nominations are due to close shortly, with a hard cutoff at 11:59 pm on December 31. Interested parties are encouraged to quickly submit their choices for individuals whose everyday actions are making a notable difference in their neighborhoods.
Initiated by Mayor Roger Reinert during his inaugural State of the City address, the award is a testament to his vision of grassroots civic engagement. Reinert's 2024 remarks emphasized the transformative power of seemingly trivial acts. "Simple acts of picking up litter on an evening dog walk, freshening and fixing the things we can, coaching youth sports, and checking in on elderly neighbors show others we care," Mayor Reinert stated during the announcement for the first round of awards last year. This approach, he argued, has a cascading effect, inspiring a broader culture of mutual concern and investment within the community.
The award is now in its second year, and details on how to nominate someone are available on the City's website. All necessary information, including a brief justification for the nomination, should be submitted through the official form provided at the given URL. Nominations are open to individuals whose deeds have positively impacted the Duluth community and who are residents of the city.
Amid the holiday bustle, Duluthians are presented with the opportunity to not only celebrate community champions but also to quietly reflect on the value of neighborhood goodwill. Mayor Reinert, who will be presenting the awards at the 2026 State of the City address, sees this accolade as a way to shine a light on those who have chosen to consistently made an active contribution to enhancing their local environment. The soon-to-close nomination period, as highlighted by the City's social media, is the final call for 2025 – a year-end opportunity for recognizing unsung members of the Duluth community.
