Orleans, MA — The Community Development Partnership (CDP) seeks nominations from the community for two awards presented annually to distinguished community members.
The awards, the Gwen Pelletier Award for Excellence in Community Service and the Norm Edinberg Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, seek to recognize and honor outstanding individuals who have left an indelible mark on the Lower and Outer Cape community through their selfless service and commitment to fostering economic diversity and entrepreneurship.
• The Gwen Pelletier Award, a tribute to the exceptional community service of the former longtime CDP Executive Director, Gwen Pelletier, stands as a testament to her dedicated years of service to the Lower Cape Community. This prestigious award is designed to acknowledge and honor individuals, businesses, or organizations that actively contribute to and uphold the economic diversity of the Lower Cape.
• The Norm Edinberg Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship honors the distinguished service of Norm Edinberg, a former longstanding CDP Board Member. This award, established in recognition of his commitment to the CDP and his unwavering support for small business development on the Lower Cape, is dedicated to honoring an established business owner in the region. The recipient of this award is someone who not only has availed themselves of CDP business and credit services but has also demonstrated a robust community connection through acts of social responsibility, environmental sustainability, volunteerism, or financial contributions.
“There are many individuals and organizations on the Lower Cape working to help year-round residents access what matters most – a safe, affordable home, a living wage, and a sustainable life,” said CDP Executive Director, Jay Coburn. “Presenting these awards each year is an important way for us to recognize those efforts that are such a critical part of strengthening our community.”
The community is invited to actively participate in this important process by submitting nominations for candidates by March 1, 2024. Award recipients will be announced at the CDP’s annual meeting on April 25, 2024, which will be held at Wellfleet Preservation Hall, 335 Main Street, Wellfleet, MA. For nomination forms and to learn more about the awards, please visit the CDP’s website: capecdp.org. Please contact Laura Cannata, Chief Advancement Officer, with questions: 508-290-0126.
PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS The Gwen Pelletier Award
2023 – Elaine Mcilroy, Chair, Wellfleet Housing Authority
2022 – Fran and Alan McClennen
2021 – Vicki Goldsmith Former Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod 2019 – Andi Genser, Former Executive Director, WECAN
2018 – John Pappalardo CEO, Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance
2017 – Wellfleet Preservation Hall
2016 – Florence Seldin, Former CDP Board Member and retired School Superintendent 2015 – Paul Ruchinskas, Retired Affordable Housing Advocate and CDP Board Member 2014 – Jari Rapaport, Long-time, former CDP Board Member
2013 – Bob Murray, Falmouth Housing Authority
2012 – Susan Lindquist Host, This Place Matters
2011 – Lisa Brown, The Haiti Project
2010 – Senator Robert O’Leary, Former State Senator
2009 – Mary Lou Petitt, CDP Founder and long-time CDP Board Member
2008 – Christine Austin, Former Director, Homeless Prevention Council
2007 – Ted Malone, President, Community Housing Resource, Inc.
2006 – David Willard, VP, Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank
2005 – Gwen Pelletier, Long-time, former CDP Executive Director
PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS
The Norm Edinberg Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship
2023 – Jess Georges, Green Road Refill, Brewster
2022 – Katherine Reed, Chequessett Chocolate, North Truro
2021 –J’aime Sparrow, Christian Sparrow, Karen Densmore, and Garrett Smythe, Sunbird Cape Cod, Orleans
2019 – The Roberts Family, Truro Vineyards and South Hollow Spirits, North Truro
2018 – Chris and Virginia Smith, Cape Cod Tree & Landscape, Inc., Chatham
2017 – Laura Davis, Cosmos Catering, Provincetown
2016 – Judy Tarr, Ben & Jerry’s, North Eastham
2015 – Tom Boland and Jim Farley, Far Land Provisions, Provincetown
2014 – Sanette Groenewald, Karoo Restaurant, Eastham
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
For more than 30 years, the Community Development Partnership (CDP) has led the Lower Cape in building a diverse year-round community of people who can afford to live, work, and thrive year‐ round in the eight outermost towns of Cape Cod: Harwich, Brewster, Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown. To accomplish its mission, the CDP promotes, develops, and manages affordable housing, nurtures the launch and growth of small businesses, and facilitates collaboration with business, nonprofit, and government partners.
The CDP has helped pass more than 300 pro-housing articles during town meetings across the Lower Cape and the approval of nearly $71 million in local funding, benefiting thousands of year-round residents. The CDP’s business and credit programs have benefitted over 3,000 small businesses, providing technical assistance and over $4.3 million in microloans to help start and sustain more than 250 small businesses.
capecdp.org
The CDP is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
