Nominations are now being accepted for the Pillars of the City community recognition project.

A nine-member committee appointed by Mayor Tom Stiehm will seek nominations for the program, which will honor residents every year by placing a plaque on one of 76 pillars along the new flood wall on North Main Street, will have a nine-person selection committee that will review nominations on an annual basis.

Committee members will consider nominations and recognize individuals, past and present, who have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life in Austin related to growth, economic impact, health, education, culture, recreation, communications, business or scientific innovations.

Plaques of the chosen individuals will be displayed on the flood wall pillars along North Main Street. The committee will choose five individuals to be announced at an unveiling during the Fourth of July festival in 2016. Three plaques will be dedicated each year thereafter.

Nomination forms are available at City Hall, 500 Fourth Ave. NE, www.ci.austin.mn.us, the city’s Facebook page, Austin Public Library and the Austin ArtWorks Center. Nominations are due by Dec. 31. For more information, contact Austin City Hall at 437-9940.