The awards, launched today, aim to recognise the unpaid efforts of individuals and groups throughout 2005, and are the first of their kind ever to be held in the Darlington borough.
People can nominate individuals, groups or businesses they feel have made an outstanding contribution to the community, and the two who have been judged to have made the most significant contribution will be crowned as Darlington's Citizen or Young Citizen of the Year.
Nominations can be made for public servants, carers, or people who have made a contribution to arts, business or the community, as long as they are a resident of the Darlington borough.
Awards will also include Young Person of the Year and Neighbour of the Year, but will not be open to nominations, and will selected by a judging panel based on competitions held last year, such as the town's Vibe awards for courageous youngsters and The Northern Echo's Neighbour from Heaven.
Winners of each category will receive a £100 prize and certificate, and two of them will then be chosen as Darlington's Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year.
The awards - organised by Darlington Partnership, sponsored by Darlington Football Club, and supported by The Northern Echo and Darlington Borough Council - are open for nominations until Tuesday, January 31.
Winners will be brought together in a glittering ceremony at Darlington FC's TFM Arena on Friday, March 10, which will be attended by some of the town's leading community figures.
Last night, groups and companies who have already pledged their support lent their backing to the inaugural Best of Darlington awards.
Alasdair MacConachie, chairman of Darlington Partnership, said: "We hope these awards that reflect the best of Darlington become an annual feature and that the award winners feel very proud of their achievements. We at Darlington Partnership will do all that we can to help them celebrate these achievements."
Chairman of Darlington Football Club, Stewart Davies, said: "We are proud to be supporting these awards that celebrate the achievements of the people and the businesses of Darlington. Many of these people will have supported the club in one way or another over the years and this is our chance to give a little bit back by hosting the event in the New Year. "
Peter Barron, Editor of The Northern Echo, said: "The achievements of the category winners have made significant positive contribution to the local community, and it is only right that their achievements are properly recognised."