Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity and the City of Murfreesboro’s Community Development Department have received national recognition for their partnership in building the organization’s 100th house in Rutherford County.

The project, completed in April 2011, was one of seven in the nation to receive the Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award from the National Community Development Association. The award recognizes innovative use of Community Development Block Grant funds to address the needs of low- and moderate-income families, homes and neighborhoods.

“The review committee was impressed with how many different partners came together to make this project work,” said NCDA Executive Director Cardell Cooper. “The key to successful community development work is bring the public, private and nonprofit sectors together and this project accomplished that many times over.”

“This award means a lot to us in the Community Development Department because it is our peers saying, ‘Well done,’” said Murfreesboro Community Development Director John Callow.

Also honored were Malden, MA; Quincy, MA; Orlando, FL; Hialeah, FL; Davenport, IA; and Gresham, OR. The award was presented on January 20, 2012, in Washington, D.C., at a luncheon highlighted by remarks from Housing and Urban Development Assistant Secretary Mercedes Marquez. Audrey Nelson was NCDA’s assistant executive director at the time of her death.