In August, EEP Director Bill Gilmore will travel to Mobile, Ala. to present EEP’s qualifications before judges in the Council of State Governments' 2005 Innovations Awards.

EEP was named one of nine southern region finalists for the awards, given annually to spotlight exemplary state programs and practices and to facilitate transferability of the initiatives to other states. The award program is the only comprehensive, national awards program that focuses exclusively on state government, and hundreds of applications are received each year for the awards.

According to the organization’s Web Site, “The Council of State Governments is the premier multibranch organization forecasting policy trends for the community of states, commonwealths and territories on a national and regional basis. CSG alerts state elected and appointed officials to emerging social, economic and political trends; offers innovative state policy responses to rapidly changing conditions; and advocates multistate problem-solving to maximize resources and competitiveness.