ACWORTH - While Mayor Tommy Allegood and 41 active Acworth residents present their city to the National Civic League in the hopes of being chosen as a 2010 All-America City today, locals are encouraged to gather 780 miles away, at the Acworth City Hall, to cheer on their hometown.

The National Civic League selected Acworth as an All-America City finalist in April, largely based on its city-sponsored programs that assist Acworth's youth. Many of the children in the programs are among the 42 delegates, along with Acworth City Council members, religious leaders and program directors, who traveled to Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday to make their pitch. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony Friday evening.

NCL spokesman Mike McGrath said the League gets about 60 applications a year for the award, which is open to municipalities, neighborhoods and metropolitan regions across the U.S. This year, 10 of the 27 finalists will be chosen as All-America Cities. Only five cities in Georgia have ever earned the title of All-America City, including Marietta in 2006. Atlanta, Savannah, Toccoa and all of DeKalb County are the other four titleholders.

The program requires applicants to document three community projects that address local challenges. Acworth chose the Horizon Field, which is the baseball and softball field specially designed to serve children with special needs; the Expanding Horizons program, which uses local donations to fund educational trips for students who rarely, if ever, get to travel outside city limits; and the Acworth Achievers program, which offers after-school opportunities for students.

Delegates will make their presentation this afternoon before a panel of 10 business, government and non-profit leaders from across the nation, who will then decide on which ten cities will win the award. Allegood said he hopes everyone can gather at the Acworth City Hall Council Room at noon to watch the presentation as it screens live.

"We expect everyone to be very, very, very proud of their community when they see this presentation because there is not another community in the nation that has the programs that are offered through our city," Allegood said. "I think people will be really proud of how we present ourselves as the most giving community in America. Many of those watching probably volunteered or made donations themselves, so they are very much a part of this, even if they're not here with us."

Allegood said the city raised $35,000 to fund the trip through donations given by local residents and companies, including Cobb EMC, Georgia Power and AT&T. Allegood said no taxpayer money was used for the trip.

"This is the greatest story that's going on all around the nation," Allegood said. "Cities are here because of their outstanding programs and because they're changing lives and their communities. Ours, of course, are the best."

Other award finalists include: Chandler, Ariz.; Bentonville, Ark.; Dublin, Calif.; Lynwood, Calif.; Rancho Cordova, Calif.; Vernon Central (neighborhood) Calif.; Miami Lakes, Fla.; North Miami. Fla.; Belleville, Ill.; Canton, Ill.; Noblesville, Ind.; Des Moines, Iowa; Lenexa, Kan.; Scott County, Kan.; Bowling Green, Ky.; Salisbury, Md.; Ferguson, Mo.; Riverside, Mo.; Lynbrook, N.Y.; Gastonia, N.C.; West Chester, Ohio; Wyoming, Ohio; Mount Pleasant, S.C.; El Paso, Texas; Abingdon, Va.; Middleton, Wis.