Last year, environmental leaders and programs swept the stage at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) 31st Future of the Region Award, including awards to Manatee County’s Charlie Hunsicker, the cities of Dunedin and Tarpon Springs, and Pasco County. This year, the awards ceremony will be held as part of the Regional Resiliency Summit May 14 and 15, which will focus on innovation in mitigation, adaptation and sustainable growth, highlighting emerging technology as well as novel adaptation strategies.
An awards category focused on innovation is new this year, and a special category for non-profit and community service organizations allows smaller groups to participate in the region’s top awards program. This category is open to any project, program or event that benefits and engages the community.
Other award categories include:
1. BUILT ENVIRONMENT
- Demonstrate best industry practices, promote compact development, and/or redevelopment in existing urban areas.
- Preserve our history, beautify public spaces, and contribute to a unique regional identity.
- Innovative infrastructure projects that deliver multiple public benefits.
- Promote smart growth, innovative land use strategies, or sustainable building design.
2. COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS & RESILIENCE
- Improve the region’s capacity to protect life and property from hurricanes and other coastal
- hazards or to adapt to rising sea levels.
- Increase the public’s knowledge and access to information about natural and man-made disaster preparedness.
- Improve the region’s ability to respond to natural disasters or other hazardous emergencies.
- Promote business resilience.
3. ECONOMY, ENERGY & TRANSPORTATION
- Support small and medium-sized local businesses and entrepreneurs, especially as a source of innovation, job creation, and economic growth.
- Collaborative projects between corporate or philanthropic leaders and governmental entities that promote economic vitality and workforce development.
- Promote/invest in energy conservation technologies or alternative energy sources.
- Promote multi-modal transportation (automobiles, semi-autonomous vehicles, public transit, ride sharing, bicycles, and pedestrians).
4. NATURAL RESOURCES & THE ENVIRONMENT
- Protect or restore critical habitats and ecologically sensitive lands.
- Improve water quality in our springs, lakes, rivers, bays and the Gulf.
- Promote conservation of scarce water resources or contribute to a sustainable water supply for our region.
- Promote environmental stewardship, outdoor youth education, and community engagement in our region’s natural places.
5. INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
- Applies innovative or non-traditional tools, methods, or workflows to address regional challenges.
- Enhances public understanding of complex planning concepts through visualization, interactivity, or other accessible formats.
- Demonstrates clear, practical use of technology to advance resiliency, economic development, environmental planning, or other areas.
All entries must be submitted electronically to info@tprpc.org/FOR2026 by March 20. There is a $100 entry fee for private-sector entries and a $50 fee for the public sector and non-profit organizations.