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City Of Santa Clarita Wins Two Helen Putnam Awards

The City of Santa Clarita was presented with two League of California Cities “Helen Putnam Awards for Excellence” Wednesday, officials said.


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The Helen Putnam Award for Excellence program holds a long-standing tradition with all California cities as being a “coveted and premier” award, recognizing outstanding achievements in a variety of categories that deliver the highest quality service in the most effective manner possible, according to a news release.

The awards given to the City were in the categories of “Intergovernmental Collaboration” for its community court diversion program and “City-Business Relations” for the Santa Clarita Business Incubator.

“We are once again ecstatic to be honored for two innovative projects that are making a difference in the lives of Santa Clarita residents,” said Mayor Pro Tem Marsha McLean.

Related: Santa Clarita Claims Pair Of Helen Putnam Awards For Public Outreach, Employee Development

This is the 13th year the City of Santa Clarita has won Helen Putnam Awards for Excellence, winning 17 Helen Putnam Awards in total, according to officials.

“The City’s priority is to develop and execute programs that are forward thinking and provide beneficial solutions for all,” said McLean. “This year’s award-winning programs may relate to vastly different sectors in our community, but they also highlight the well-rounded approach taken by City staff to maintain the high quality of life in Santa Clarita.”

Prior to 2006, youth who committed petty crimes in Santa Clarita would become one of thousands processed through the Los Angeles County juvenile justice system, according to City officials.

To avoid this, City of Santa Clarita staff, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the William S. Hart Union High School District created the Santa Clarita community court diversion program.

The program consists of two options for first-time juvenile offenders: community court, for offenses such as petty theft, curfew violations and vandalism; and teen court, for more severe offenses such as assault, possession of a controlled substance and burglary.

Sheriff’s Department personnel refer cases to the court and serve as the bailiff during court sessions. William S. Hart Union High School District students serve as volunteer peer jurors and local practicing attorneys volunteer as judges, according to City officials.

To date, nearly 4,200 youth have participated, more than 40,000 hours of community service have been performed and participants have a 98 percent completion success rate, according to officials.

The Santa Clarita Business Incubator, which also received an award, is a collaboration between the City, College of the Canyons and the Small Business Development Center.

The Business Incubator helps local entrepreneurs prepare their ideas and connect them to resources necessary to thrive. It also provides startup companies with one-on-one business consultations, access to funding and customized trainings for tenants, according to officials.

For more information about the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence program, visit the website here.

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City Of Santa Clarita Wins Two Helen Putnam Awards

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About Lorena Mejia

Lorena was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. She attended California State University Northridge where she double majored in Journalism and Chicano Studies and minored in Spanish Language Journalism. While at CSUN, she worked for the university's television and radio newscast. Through her journalistic work, she earned membership to Kappa Tau Alpha, a national honor society for selected journalists. Her passion for the community has introduced her to new people, ideas, and issues that have helped shape the person she is today. Lorena’s skills include using cameras as a tool to empower people by informing them and creating change in their communities. Some of her hobbies include reading the news, exploring the outdoors, and being an avid animal lover. To contact Lorena, send your messages to lorena@hometownstation.com.