The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School recently announced the finalists for the 2008 Innovations in American Government Awards competition, which recognizes programs that are models of government excellence, representing innovative programming from the local, county, city, tribal, state and federal levels. Government Technology magazine reported the finalists, which include Pennsylvania's ACCESS Plus, a program that delivers health care services to low income children and families, and Fresh Food Financing Initiative , which increases access to fresh, affordable food by providing grants and loans to supermarkets and grocery stores in underserved communities, in addition to North Carolina's Learn and Earn Initiative that allows high school students to gain job skills, jumpstart their college education and earn a four-year degree free of debt. Check back in late September for a list of the winners. View more articles, issues, questions or lists.