Innovations Award

Call for Entries

The Innovations Award provides an opportunity for officials and staff of member cities and towns to receive recognition for their superior and innovative efforts. In addition, this award provides a means for sharing Oklahoma’s best public service ideas and demonstrates that those involved with local government are progressive, caring, and committed to their communities.

This award will be presented to the municipality deemed “Most Innovative” by a panel of judges comprised of municipal officials. Nominees will be invited to attend and be recognized at the OML Awards Banquet on Thursday, September 15, 2026 in Tulsa. There will be two prizes awarded:

• Up to 5,000 population

• Over 5,000 population

Preparation of Entries:

Keep your entry simple and clear. Each entry should not exceed three pages. A cover page (on municipal letterhead) indicating the name of the program, population category, municipality, and the contact information for the program manager is required. It must also include a 100-word summary of the project. An appendix including photographs (in jpg format), art or newspaper article scans may be attached to the entry, please limit to six additional pages. Limit of 3 entries per municipality.

The entry should describe your municipality’s program and answer the following questions:

• Why was the program needed? How is the program set up?

• What does it cost?

• Who benefits?

• Were citizen volunteers used in an innovative way?

• Can you demonstrate tangible results?

• Can other municipalities implement a similar program?

Timeline

Nominations Accepted:
Year-round

Annual Deadline for Consideration:
August 4

Committee Review:
August 10–20

Notification of Finalists:
Late August

Award Presentation:
Thursday, September 11, 2025, at the OML Conference Awards Banquet

Questions? Contact Cynthia Madrid at cmadrid@oml.org. 

Innovations Award Judging Instructions

Purpose: To fairly and objectively evaluate entries and identify the municipality that demonstrates the most innovative, effective, and replicable program.

Selection Committee

Judges will consist of two (2) OML Board of Directors members, the previous year’s Innovations Award winner, and two (2) municipal professionals.  A judge must recuse themselves from entries where a direct conflict exists.

Judging Process

Step 1: Eligibility Check
Confirm entry meets requirements (page limits, cover page, appendix limit, max 3 entries per municipality).

Step 2: Individual Review & Scoring
Evaluate the entry using the rubric; provide notes to support your scores.

Step 3: Submission of Scores
Complete one scoring sheet per entry and submit by the deadline.

Step 4: Panel Deliberation
Scores are compiled; judges discuss top entries and select winners by majority vote.

Scoring Rubric (100 points total)

Innovation & Originality — 30 points – Novelty of idea, creativity in design/approach, and advancement beyond standard practice.

Impact & Results — 25 points – Documented outcomes, measurable benefits, and evidence of success.

Replicability & Scalability — 15 points – Feasibility for adoption by other municipalities; adaptability to different sizes/resources.

Cost-Effectiveness & Resource Stewardship — 10 points – Efficient use of funds/resources; sustainable operations.

Community Engagement & Volunteers — 10 points – Meaningful engagement of residents and/or innovative volunteer use.

Clarity & Quality of Entry — 10 points – Completeness, clarity, and organization of the submission (including cover page and appendix).