Outstanding rural volunteers could win $10,000 award; top local elected leaders must send in nominations by Aug. 15

Nominations are open for the Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award, which recognizes extraordinary volunteer service in communities of 5,000 people or smaller. The program will honor 100 outstanding volunteers nationwide; the top three will receive $10,000, $7,500, and $5,000, respectively. Nominations must be made by the chief elected official of a community by Aug. 15, and the awards will be announced Sept. 15. Click here for more information.

"Research shows that the percent of people volunteering in small communities and rural counties has dropped substantially over the last 12 years," says the website. "Civic volunteerism is the lifeblood of small town and rural America. STACVA is intended to help address this critical shortage by recognizing and supporting 'hometown heroes,' and by promoting best practices designed to spur a cadre of new civic volunteers to fill these vital roles."

The award is organized by CivicPlus, a technology platform company geared toward local governments, and co-sponsored by the National Association of Counties, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Association of Towns and Townships, Points of Light, and Main Street America.