City Bits

Downtown nominations

Downtown Colorado Inc. is accepting nominations for the 2009 Governor’s Awards for Downtown Excellence.

The annual program recognizes the progress being made in revitalizing Colorado’s historic downtowns and neighborhood business districts, and the contributions the districts make to the state’s quality of life and economy.

The award categories include:

• Best Building Rehabilitation
• Best Historic Restoration
• Rest Adaptive Re-use
• Best New Construction
• Best Public Space Project
• Best Smart Growth Downtown Project
• Best Promotional Event
• Best Downtown Management Program
• Best Façade Program
• Best Sustainable Downtown Project
• Downtowner of the Year

Nomination forms, which are available at www.downtowncoloradoinc.org, must be received by 5 p.m. July 27. Projects must have been completed between Sept. 1, 2007, and June 30, 2009.

Volunteers needed for county boards

The El Paso County Board of Commissioners is seeking volunteers to serve on the Citizen Review Panel and the Community Corrections Board.

Two members are needed to serve three-year terms on the CRP, which is an extension and continuation of the grievance (appeal) procedure established through the Department of Human Services Quality Assurance Program.

The panel provides a forum for the discussion of consumer concerns regarding the Department of Human Services, reviews and audits quality issues and concerns with the department, and considers and addresses other issues brought before it by the department director.

The corrections board is in need of an at-large representative to serve a three-year term.

The board advises the commissioners about community-based and community-oriented programs that provide supervision of offenders who are diverted from prison and those transitioning back into the community after prison.

Applications are available at www.elpasoco.com. The deadline to apply is April 17.

J.P. Morgan wins 15 industry awards

J.P. Morgan’s Global Trade Services business unit has won 15 awards for leadership, including overall trade banking excellence, the management of complex trade finance transactions and continuing innovation.

The business unit received the following awards:

• Best Trade Finance Bank (Asia): The Asset
• Best Trade Finance Solution: FinanceAsia
• Best Trade Bank (North America): Global Trade Review
• Most Innovative and Responsive Trade Bank: Global Trade Review
• Three Deals of the Year from Global Trade Review: Weldy/Lamont-Republic of Ghana; Axiom Telecom (United Arab Emirates); Aksa Enerji/Genera Electric (Turkey)

Two Deals of the Year from Trade Finance: Dowell Schlumberger (Mexico); Axiom Telecom (United Arab Emirates)

Best Trade Services Provider: Trade & Forfaiting Review

Best Structured Trade Finance Bank: Trade & Forfaiting Review

Best Online Trade Bank: Trade & Forfaiting Review

Two Deals of the Year from Trade & Forfaiting Review: Dowell Schlumberger (Mexico); Habib Bank (Pakistan)

Best Supply Chain Finance Bank: Treasury Management International

ESM needs volunteers for 9Health Fair

Ecumenical Social Ministries needs medical and non-medical volunteers to help draw blood, conduct health screening, manage registration and assist with client flow during the 9Health Fair.

Spanish-speaking volunteers are particularly desirable.

The event, which is being held in collaboration with Penrose-St. Francis Mission Outreach, is scheduled for 7 a.m. to noon April 25.

Contact Kissy Gray at 228-6785 or kgray@ecusocmin.org, or visit www.9healthfair.org.

Transportation plan open for public comment

The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments has released the draft update of its Public Participation Plan for public comment.

This is the first step in the development of the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan and 2010-15 Transportation Improvement Program.

The public comment period will end May 27, and the final draft of the Public Participation Plan will be presented to the board of directors July 8.

To review the plan and comment, visit www.ppacg.org.

PPWFC needs volunteers for RESTORE program

The Pikes Peak Workforce Center is seeking volunteers for its Re-entry Services to Regain Employment program.

RESTORE helps ex-offenders who are on probation to secure employment.

Duties of volunteer advocates include:

• Assessing job seekers’ barriers, readiness and suitability for employment.
• Evaluating client needs, providing information and referrals to appropriate community agencies.
• Providing job coaching to enhance clients’ employment skills.
• Providing positive reinforcement and motivational skills.
• Maintaining a job database.
• Communicating with the probation department about the offenders’ progress.

Volunteers should have the following skills:

• Good communication skills, verbal and written.
• Ability to work with a variety of people and personalities.
• General ability to assess behavior.
• Experience in working with computer and computer applications.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Commitment to provide excellent customer service.

For more information, call Kris at 667-3765 or Grace at 667-3775.

Free tutoring in reading

The Children’s Literacy Center is offering free one-on-one tutoring for children reading below grade level.

Children are matched with trained volunteer tutors and meet twice a week for an hour each session.

To determine whether your child is eligible to enroll, call Pamela Polke at 471-8672 or visit www.peakreader.org.