Scenic America earns national Gold Award for empowering communities to combat billboard blight

When communities face proposals for new digital billboards, residents often find themselves up against well‑funded billboard‑industry interests with far greater resources.

Without access to the technical expertise, policy research, and advocacy support needed to mount an effective response, many communities struggle to protect the places they love.

Helping communities meet that challenge has become one of Scenic America’s defining priorities — and it has now earned the organization national recognition.

The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) has honored Scenic America with a 2026 Power of Associations Gold Award in the Community Support and Engagement category for its initiative, “Scenic America: Rallying Communities Against Billboard Blight.” The award recognizes associations whose programs bring people together to solve problems, strengthen communities, and create meaningful public benefit.

More than a recognition of any single campaign, the award reflects Scenic America’s nimble shift from relying primarily on national advocacy to working more directly alongside communities to preserve scenic beauty, protect neighborhood character, and maintain meaningful local oversight of development decisions.

Meeting communities where they are

As billboard companies increasingly shifted their efforts to state legislatures and local governments, Scenic America adapted its approach.

The organization expanded beyond traditional national advocacy, working directly with local leaders, neighborhood organizations, preservation advocates, state affiliates, and residents confronting billboard proliferation and visual pollution. By combining research, policy expertise, strategic communications, grassroots organizing, coalition building, public education, and testimony before decision‑makers, Scenic America equipped communities with resources they often could not assemble on their own.

National expertise, local impact

During the initiative, Scenic America engaged in advocacy efforts in more than a dozen jurisdictions nationwide while activating approximately 1,200 volunteers and grassroots advocates.

The initiative helped preserve Raleigh, North Carolina’s prohibition on new digital billboards, strengthen digital‑sign regulations in Helena, Montana, and oppose legislation that would have weakened billboard oversight in Texas and California.

Not every effort resulted in an immediate legislative victory. Every campaign, however, strengthened local advocacy, elevated public awareness, and gave residents a stronger voice in decisions affecting the visual character of their communities.

“The places people care about most are the places they call home,” said Mark Falzone, president and CEO of Scenic America. “Protecting those places is most successful when local communities have the knowledge, the partnerships, and the confidence to speak for themselves. We’re honored that ASAE recognized the power of helping communities turn their commitment into action.”

Looking ahead

For more than 40 years, Scenic America has worked to preserve and enhance the visual character of America’s roadways, communities, parks, and public spaces.

This award affirms an approach that pairs national expertise with local action. As new scenic‑conservation challenges emerge, Scenic America will continue helping communities protect the places that define their identity, strengthen their quality of life, and inspire future generations.