The city of SeaTac was a winner of the 2007 Governor's Smart Communities Awards announced recently by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Nine winners were selected from among 20 nominees for creating livable communities.

SeaTac was honored for its Airport [light rail] Station Area Action Plan and South 154th Street [light rail] Station Area Action Plan.

"As Washington works to position itself in the global economy, the work of local governments and their partners to create vibrant, quality communities is vital to our success," said Gregoire.

"The leadership of these award winners helps to make Washington a great state in which to live and do business."

In addition to SeaTac, winners were the cities of Everett, Oak Harbor, Seattle, Bothell and Bellevue, with merit awards given to Stevens County and the Seattle and Tacoma housing authorities.

"The Smart Communities award winners reflect the wide variety of efforts that make up effective growth management planning," said Juli Wilkerson, director of the Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

"Communities can move forward when good, collaborative work like this is accomplished."

Washington's comprehensive Growth Management Act has been in place for 16 years. It offers tools to local communities to help determine how to achieve a vision for the future.

Wilkerson said she was pleased that the judges gave special Merit Awards to two neighborhood redevelopment projects that offer affordable housing, including High Point in Seattle, which demonstrates "that progress can be made in revitalizing declining neighborhoods."