National recognition for a job well done can mean everything.

In 1987, the Raoul Wallenberg Committee of the United States bestowed its first community award on Coeur d’Alene to honor the city’s long fight against racism. Afterward, when the national media visited to cover an Aryan Nations convention or parade, Coeur d’Alene representatives pointed with pride to the award as proof that they were involved actively in the human rights struggle.

Three years later, Coeur d’Alene’s support for human rights, as evidenced by the Wallenberg award, was one of three key factors as it won the All-American City award, described by one of the award founders, George H. Gallup, as the “Nobel prize for constructive citizenship.”

Now, it’s Spokane’s turn to wear the crown of All-American City – again.

For the second time in 30 years, the National Civic League has designated Spokane as an All-American City – an honor that’s just as sweet now as it was in the afterglow of Expo ‘74. Maybe sweeter.

After years of fierce political infighting, gang and drug problems, and economic malaise, Spokane is emerging from its cloud of self-doubt to re-establish itself as a regional commercial, medical and cultural leader.

Mayor Jim West deserves credit for that. So does the 13-member committee that pitched Spokane’s pluses to the National Civic League. But the job isn’t over. Now, Spokane must take advantage of the momentum gained by winning this honor.

According to the National Civic League, some cities realize significant economic benefits from an All-American City designation. These include new grants, improved bond ratings, increased tourism and greater economic activity.

Spokane doesn’t have to look farther than neighboring Coeur d’Alene to see that this is true. Paul Anderson, chairman of Kootenai County’s Jobs Plus, has said Coeur d’Alene gained much more from All-American City honors than bragging rights.

“Since winning the award in 1990,” Anderson said, “71 companies have relocated here, bringing in 3,900 new jobs as of 2003. These new jobs are generating an annual payroll of more than $100 million. The award gave us the credibility and pride to encourage these companies to relocate.”

Spokane can use the good dose of community pride that comes with the award, too. For a century or so, it chafed at playing second fiddle to metropolitan Seattle – only to suffer the indignity last year of being caught and passed, in population, by Tacoma. The Spokesman-Review made mention of the civic inferiority complex in an April 1975 editorial that addressed the 1974-75 All-American City designation:

“Self-confidence may seem to be a strange attribute of a city, but communities do seem to reflect individual personalities. Spokane has characteristically been more self-doubting than it should have been. If we have suffered here from a country cousin complex – and to a degree we have – this national recognition will be an encouragement for this city to appreciate its own values more fully.”

Since 1949, 500 cities and towns have won All-American City bragging rights. But only a few, like Spokane, have won the honor more than once. Spokane should work hard to cash in on its latest award. It also should learn to strut.