September 26, 2014 – (Amherst, OH)  On October 23, 2014, Lorain County Heritage will celebrate the county’s premier architecture, landscaping, sustainability and community service projects at the Lorain County Beautiful Awards Banquet. Craig Adams, News Director and Morning Show Co-host for AM930 WEOL will host the event. Craig has won numerous awards from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Cleveland Press Club. He lives in Avon and has been co-hosting the AM 930 WEOL Morning Show with Bruce VanDyke for three years.The Lorain County Beautiful Awards banquet is on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 5:30pm at LCCC’s Spitzer Conference Center, 1005 Abbe Road, Elyria, OH 44035.  Reservations are $38 per person or $265 for a table of eight. Reservations can be made in advance by calling Lorain County Heritage/Visit Lorain County at 440-984-5282.

The Lorain County Beautiful Awards program was established in 1992 and has been conducted by Lorain County Heritage, the nonprofit arm of Visit Lorain County, since 2000. The awards program recognizes buildings and sites for their aesthetic contribution to the quality of life in Lorain County. The finalists are divided into five categories:

• Category 1 – New Building Award. Any newly built commercial, public, religious or recreational property completed after January 2012. Subcategories: Project Building Budget up to $750,000, Project Building Budget over $750,000.
• Category 2 – Green Building Award. Any residential or non-residential building (interior and/or exterior) that demonstrates sustainability by increasing the building’s efficiency and reducing its non-sustainable resource reliability.
• Category 3 – Renovation Award. Any building or site that impacts neighborhood/downtown revitalization through exterior repair, alterations, and additions.
• Category 4 – Landscaping Award. Any exceptional commercial, public or religious landscaping project.
• Category 5 – Community Service Award. Any volunteer project for the betterment of the community such as community garden projects, beautification teams, etc.

After the nominations were gathered and finalists were chosen, a panel of experts from outside Lorain County judged the selected sites and chose the winners for each category. The finalists and winners will be recognized at the awards banquet on October 23, 2014. The event will showcase significant Lorain County enhancements through a multimedia presentation and awards ceremony.  For a complete list of finalists, visit www.loraincountybeautiful.com.  This program is made possible due to the generous support of the Community Foundation of Lorain County.

The mission of Lorain County Heritage, Inc. is to preserve, promote and provide education regarding Lorain County’s unique history, culture, arts and natural environment. Lorain County Heritage, Inc. encourages responsible travel to and inside Lorain County.