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SEATTLE— The Puget Sound Regional Council is honoring Congressman Norm Dicks with a special VISION 2020 Award for his achievements in revitalizing downtown Tacoma and Bremerton, his ongoing work to protect the Hood Canal and his sustained leadership toward implementing the region's growth strategy throughout the region. The award represents the region's highest honor in demonstrating outstanding leadership in enhancing the region's quality of life and economic vitality.

"Congressman Dicks has provided extraordinary sustained leadership in achieving the region's goals to enhance our quality of life and provide economic opportunity for all of us," said PSRC President, Seattle Councilmember Richard McIver. "His work to champion the redevelopment of the Bremerton waterfront is just one example of the ways his leadership is making the region a better place to live, work and raise a family. And his leadership in other areas is making a big difference in places throughout the region, including the city I represent."

"Norm has been a huge asset to Tacoma's revitalization and Pierce County as a whole," said PSRC Vice-President, Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg. "He helped us secure the University of Washington's branch campus in Tacoma and was the energy behind the historic preservation of the Union Station courthouse - cornerstone projects that were key to bringing in new development into the city. When it comes to sustained leadership and energy, Norm has been a constant."

Congressman Dicks will be honored along with nine other regional projects that are superb examples of the innovative work being done to provide affordable housing, revitalize urban centers, provide infrastructure, and enhance the region's environment.

The 2005 VISION 2020 Award winners are:

Snoqualmie Forest Preservation Agreement
King County's work to preserve open space through a conservation easement and transfer of development rights that will maintain 90,000 acres as a working forest.

YWCA Opportunity Place
A new seven story region facility in Belltown offering 145 units of permanent housing for low-income individuals, comprehensive services for homeless women, and an employment and training center.

Bremerton Community Renewal Project
This project revitalized the downtown core of Bremerton beginning with public investments in the Norm Dicks Government Center and the Kitsap Conference Center. Over $400 million in public projects are scheduled for the first phase of the plan. Private interests have responded quickly, retail space is full, the conference center is busy, and $19.3 million in private developments are in the works.

Everett Events Center
The new mixed use center has exceeded community expectations for events, attendance, community support, and economic stimulus. The Events Center is easily accessible by transit, offers good pedestrian facilities, and is revitalizing nearby developments with new retail and employment facilities.

Mill Creek Town Center
A mixed use center consisting of five compact neighborhoods, a retail center, and a pedestrian network.

Renton Airport Compatible Land Use Program
The City of Renton's work to ensure incompatible land uses are not located near the airport, which is especially innovative because the airport is in the city center.

Redevelopment of the former Coast Guard property in Redmond
A site created on surplus land including a mix of very low income family emergency shelter and transitional housing for formerly homeless individuals, low income ownership housing via Habitat for Humanity, and housing for median income households. The site includes a park.

Tashiro Kaplan Artist Lofts
An efficient redevelopment in Pioneer Square offering artists and their families who are earning below the median income permanent live work space.

Hillside Gardens Apartments & Eliza McCabe Townhomes
A redevelopment in downtown Tacoma offering 36 units to families earning between 30 to 60% below the median income, 18 units of transitional housing for previously homeless families, and 13 units for disabled persons.

VISION 2020 is a comprehensive strategy for the future of central Puget Sound, addressing growth management, the economy and transportation. It was created by the counties, cities, towns, transit agencies and ports and people of the central Puget Sound region as a way to work together with common goals, coordinated and planned growth, and more efficient use of resources to better ensure long-term success as the region grows and changes.

The VISION 2020 Awards will be presented at the PSRC's annual General Assembly dinner attended by hundreds of people from throughout the region on March 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Westin Hotel in Seattle. The General Assembly includes mayors, county executives, commissioners and council members representing more than 80 member governments and agencies. The full agenda for the meeting is available on PSRC's Web site (psrc.org) or by calling the Information Center at (206) 464-7532.

PSRC develops policies and coordinates decisions about regional growth and transportation planning in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties. The Council is composed of over 80 county, city, port, transit, tribal and state agencies serving the region. It coordinates the distribution of about $160 million in Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration funds each year. PSRC sets priorities and evaluates the most efficient ways to target those funds to support state and local transportation and growth management plans.