City of McAllen Earns Recognition at 2015 Keep America Beautiful National Conference

 The City of McAllen received a Keep America Beautiful National Award at the annual Keep America Beautiful (KAB) National Awards Dinner, held during the recent 2015 KAB National Conference in Washington, D.C. The City of McAllen was honored for distinguishing itself as an exemplary Municipality taking first place in the Government category.


The City of McAllen was honored for its Community Revitalization program Project Imagine Tomorrow and its on-going collaboration with local affiliate Keep McAllen Beautiful.


The KAB National Awards are open to KAB affiliates, government agencies, nonprofit or civic organizations, and youth groups or schools for program activities during the past year that help create communities that are socially connected, environmentally healthy and economically sound.


Established in 1953, KAB consists of a national network of more than 600 community-based affiliates whose programs, initiatives and efforts aim to transform public spaces into beautiful places. “It’s my privilege to honor the City of McAllen and celebrate its dedication in engaging volunteers to make its community vibrant,” said Jennifer Jehn, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. “Award-winning affiliates, such as Keep McAllen Beautiful, serve as a great inspiration in our national effort to keep America beautiful.”


The City of McAllen took first place in the Government category for its implementation and support of multiple community improvement and litter prevention programs including:

 Project Imagine Tomorrow: The City of McAllen’s Health & Code Enforcement Department launched Project Imagine Tomorrow to help curb the amount of substandard, vacant homes in the City of McAllen. This initiative is currently offering Home Improvement Incentives to Property Owners and Developers that include Roll-off containers, 50% Contractor Reimbursement for Demolitions, Tax Incentives for Home Improvements, and Waiving of Permit Fees. In addition, it is also offering an incentive of Low Interest Home-Repair loans financed and undertaken by Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc., specifically created for owner-occupants.

  Collaboration in Paint McAllen Beautiful: The City of McAllen’s Health & Code Enforcement Department and Keep McAllen Beautiful are working together to help low income, elderly, and disabled residents paint the exterior of their home with the help of community sponsors, volunteers, and faith based organizations.

  Support of Project Clean Neighborhoods: A Keep McAllen Beautiful project that empowers residents in a given neighborhood to clean up their property and dispose of any debris or litter with roll-off dumpsters provided free of charge by the City of McAllen’s Public Works Department. “Collaboration has been a winning formula in beautifying the City of McAllen,” said Chris Lash, Program Coordinator for Keep McAllen Beautiful.


Keep America Beautiful’s National Conference, KAB’s premier educational and networking event, brings together KAB’s national network of state and local affiliate directors, business leaders, policymakers and other national experts who focus on framing new ideas and strategies to build and sustain vibrant communities.


About Keep McAllen Beautiful: Keep McAllen Beautiful, Inc. is an educational, non-profit organization that develops and expands the awareness of McAllen’s citizens and visitors about littering and proper waste disposal, and promotes the preservation of McAllen’s natural beauty.


About Keep America Beautiful: Keep America Beautiful is the nation’s leading nonprofit that brings people together to build and sustain vibrant communities. With a national network of community-based affiliates, we work with millions of volunteers who take action in their communities to transform public spaces into beautiful places. Through our programs and public-private partnerships, we engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community’s environment. To learn how you can donate and take action, visit kab.org, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or view us on YouTube.