McAllen-– Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) has recognized Keep McAllen Beautiful as one of 10 winners of the 2017 Governor’s Community Achievement Awards (GCAA) for their outstanding overall efforts to keep their communities beautiful. The award is one of the most coveted annual environmental and community improvement honors in Texas. The winners will share $2 million in landscape funding from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT);McAllen will receive $290,000.00 for a landscaping project along a local state right-of-way.
Communities submitted materials to one of 10 population categories and judges chose the winners based on their achievements in seven environmental and community improvement areas: community leadership and coordination, education, public awareness, litter prevention and cleanup, litter law and illegal dumping enforcement, beautification and community improvement, and solid waste management.
“I am proud that the efforts of Keep McAllen Beautiful and our community have not only continued to make our city beautiful, but also, have been recognized by the State of Texas with such a prestigious award,” said City of McAllen Mayor Jim Darling. “
The GCAA program has recognized outstanding communities for more than 30 years, with TxDOT providing landscaping funding since 1985. Keep McAllen Beautiful received the award on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 in San Antonio during the Keep Texas Beautiful 50th Annual Conference. Keep McAllen Beautiful, is an educational, non-profit organization that develops and expands the awareness of McAllen’s citizens and visitors about littering and proper disposal of waste, and promotes the beautification and preservation of McAllen’s natural beauty. “We are so proud and thankful to the City of McAllen staff, the various city departments, KMB Board of Directors, and our thousands of volunteers who have made this possible”, stated Chris Lash, Program Coordinated.
Keep Texas Beautiful, a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement nonprofit, strives to educate and engage Texans to take responsibility for improving their community environment. KTB and its more than 390 affiliates work with government, businesses, civic groups and volunteers to ensure that every Texan has the opportunity to make Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation. This year, Keep Texas Beautiful is celebrating its 50th Anniversary as an organization. For more information or to donate, call 1-800- CLEAN-TX. Visitwww.ktb.org or follow along at #50YearsofKTB.
The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, rail, and public transportation across the state. Through collaboration and leadership, they deliver a safe, reliable, and integrated transportation system that enables the movement of people and goods. Find out more at txdot.gov.
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