Norwich — Paul Siefert, owner of Billy Wilson’s Ageing Still, and the Norwich Community Development Corporation were selected by the Norwich Events Organization as the 2018 recipients of the annual Ron Aliano Service Award for their distinguished service in the development of the city.

The award honors an individual and a Norwich business dedicated to public service and professionalism and is named for Aliano, who founded American Ambulance, developed the Marina at American Wharf and other local businesses, supported local events and volunteered on local boards and commissions.

The awards will be presented during a ceremony Thursday, June 7, as part of the annual Norwich Harbor July 4 fireworks silent auction fundraiser at the Marina at American Wharf. The fundraiser will run from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and are available at Billy Wilson’s Ageing Still, the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce, the Harp and Dragon Irish pub, These Guys Brewing Company or online at www.GoNorwichCT.com.

Siefert was a founding member of the Norwich St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival and volunteers his time and money in support of numerous downtown and citywide events, including the Norwich Harbor fireworks and First Friday arts programs. He sits on peer review committees for the downtown revitalization bond program.

NCDC, founded in 1963, has been a part of many major projects throughout the city of Norwich, starting with the creation of the industrial park, now known as the Stanley Israelite Business Park, in an area that largely was left behind as undevelopable.

In 2016 NCDC invested capital set aside for economic development and turned a section of the former Norwich Bulletin building on Franklin Street into Foundry 66, a shared workspace facility. Foundry 66 opened in 2017 and now houses more than 20 small businesses in downtown Norwich.

Norwich Events Organization started in 2017 and currently manages the Norwich St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival, the Norwich Harbor 4th of July Fireworks, The St. Patrick’s Gala, the Ron Aliano Service Awards, the Oktoberfest Pub Crawl, SantaCon and this year there will be an '80s Prom Pub Crawl in August.