First place of the 2022 Home Beautification Contest single-family category went to Martha Ryan with her home at 63 Silver Street. The Evening Sun and Norwich Building Tomorrow Foundation have begun the 2023 contest. Renovations must be completed between March 1, 2023 and October 31, 2023. The deadline for entry is November 15, 2023. (Submitted photos)

NORWICH — The Evening Sun and the Norwich Building Tomorrow Foundation have announced the beginning of the 2023 Home Beautification Contest. For its fifth year in a row, the contest aims to help identify, encourage, and reward property owners in the City of Norwich making improvements on their homes.

All entries will be judged based on improvements to the exterior of their homes, such as new paint or siding, roofing, windows and doors, shutters, landscaping, fencing, walkways, and more. Applicants must attain measurable improvements to their property as determined by contest sponsors.

Single- and multi-family homes are eligible for the contest. Single-family entries must be owner occupied, and multi-family homes must have two to four family units.

For the single-family category, the first place winner will take home $5,000, second place receives $3,000, third place wins $2,000, and fourth place receives $1,000. In the multi-family category, the first place winner will receive $5,000 and the second place winner will receive $4,000.

Improvements must have started after March 1, 2023 and be completed by by October 31, 2023. Deadline for entry is November 15, 2023.

Entry forms can be found in print and digital copies of the Evening Sun. To enter the Home Beautification Contest, mail a completed entry form and before and after photos of the property to Home Beautification Contest, ℅ The Evening Sun, 29 Lackawanna Avenue, Norwich, NY 13815 or email a completed entry form and photos to contest@evesun.com.

The goal of the contest is to improve the quality of life in the City of Norwich and reward those in the community who are actively investing in home improvements for families and young professionals.

Judges will look at exterior improvements only, with an emphasis on those properties undergoing the most significant exterior renovations which improve not only the residence, but positively impact the neighborhood as well.

The contest is modeled after the original contest promoted by Smith Ford Norwich back in the 80s and 90s, and began in 2019. The contest has become an annual tradition supported by community sponsors working in partnership with The Norwich Building Tomorrow Foundation and The Evening Sun.

To date, the Home Beautification Contest has awarded cash prizes to 23 homeowners totaling $63,500.

The Norwich Building Tomorrow Foundation is a local not for profit with a mission to improve the quality of life in the City of Norwich, primarily through seeking opportunities to improve and preserve housing and other property development opportunities.

Full contest rules are as follows:

1. All single family entries must be owner occupied.

2. Property must be located within the City of Norwich.

3. Entries will be judged by exterior improvements to residences.

4. Entrants must complete the entry form and provide before and after pictures.

5. Improvements must have started after March 1, 2023 and be completed by October 31, 2023. Deadline for entry is November 15, 2023.

6. Employees of The Evening Sun and directors of the Norwich Building Tomorrow Foundation, Inc. are not eligible.

7. All decisions by contest judges are final.

8. The Evening Sun has the right to publish any or all contest pictures.

9. Mail your entry form and pictures to: Home Beautification Contest, ℅ The Evening Sun, 29 Lackawanna Avenue, Norwich, NY 13815 OR email to contest@evesun.com.