Pictured, from left, Vickie Durham, Relative Caregiver Program and ERP Director; and Myra Walker, Housing and Family Services Director.
The Upper Cumberland Development District, based in Cookeville, Tenn., has recently been recognized with a 2025 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for its transitional homes for men and women.
In partnership with the City of Smithville, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency, and certified peer recovery specialists, UCDD established two recovery homes, designed to help provide housing, structure, purpose, and support to those
Presented annually, the NADO Impact Awards honor regional development organizations and their partners for strengthening communities, building regional resilience, and enhancing local economies through innovative approaches to economic and community development. NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies.
This year’s cohort included 90 impactful projects led by 79 organizations across 24 states. These award-winning efforts were recognized during NADO’s 2025 Annual Training Conference, held this past October in Salt Lake City, Utah. All selected projects are featured in an interactive StoryMap that showcases summaries, images, and key partners. The map is available at www.nado.org/2025impactawards/.
“The Impact Awards are an annual reminder of the creativity and commitment that regional development organizations bring to their communities,” said 2024-2025 NADO President Rick Hunsaker, Executive Director of the Region XII Council of Governments in Iowa. “This year’s awardees show how local and regional partnerships, driven by vision and collaboration, can lead to lasting positive change across our country.”
“I am incredibly proud of our team for providing a safe home for those committed to recovery,” Mark Farley, UCDD and UCHRA Executive Director, added. “We’re committed to helping individuals achieve self-sufficiency and grateful for the partnerships that make it all possible.”
The Impact Awards are presented in memory of Aliceann Wohlbruck, NADO’s first executive director, who was a lifelong advocate for regional solutions and rural economic development.
