Last month, Communities of Excellence 2026 announced that Excelsior Springs was among ten communities across the country to be awarded the prestigious Communities of Excellence recognition. This honor reflects the city’s commitment to enhancing residents’ quality of life through collaborative leadership and community-driven initiatives.
The recognition celebrates Excelsior Springs’ dedication to the Baldrige-based Communities of Excellence Framework, a strategic approach focused on social impact through performance excellence, goal-oriented collaboration, and active resident engagement. This framework empowers communities to address pressing challenges and build a more vibrant future through measurable outcomes and shared strategic goals.
The City of Excelsior Springs achieved the highest level of recognition in the program—the Silver Recognition—making it the first community in the United States to do so at the time. Joining Excelsior Springs were other recognized cities, including Coral Gables, Florida; the San Diego South Region, California; and West Kendall, Florida.
City Manager Molly McGovern highlighted the value of this collaborative approach, stating, “The work that COE is doing is to create relationships around a common purpose. We have made an intentional choice to pursue this work, and it is the difference between putting out fires or preventing them. There are so many great quotes that describe what we are doing, but I like this one from Helen Keller: ‘Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.’”
Communities awarded this recognition have shown remarkable progress in aligning local efforts around shared goals, improving communication with residents, and adopting data-driven approaches to track and enhance their impact. From supporting economic growth to advancing education and public health, these communities are fostering positive change that will benefit residents for years to come.
“We are incredibly proud of these ten communities for their outstanding commitment to excellence and the impact they are making,” said Stephanie Norling, President and CEO of Communities of Excellence 2026. “Their dedication to working collaboratively, using data to guide decisions, and continuously improving their processes sets a remarkable example for communities across the nation.”
On October 28, 2024, the City of Excelsior Springs was officially recognized at the Communities of Excellence Conference in Coral Gables, Florida. Thrive Excelsior Director Kim Halfhill attended the event and shared insights into the city’s local initiatives. Thrive Excelsior, which citizens may know through projects like the Curb Appeal Awards, the Citizen Leadership Academy, and community surveys, plays an active role in the community’s development by uniting leaders in their shared mission to improve life quality and longevity for Excelsior Springs residents.
For more information on the Communities of Excellence 2026 initiative, visit communitiesofexcellence2026.org.
