Village will receive $90,000 landscaping grant

Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) announced the winners of the 2018 Governor’s Community Achievement Awards (GCAA), one of the most prestigious annual environmental awards in Texas.

Salado learned on March 23 that it is one of the 10 communities in the state to win a Governor’s Community Achievement Award. As a result, Keep Salado Beautiful will be the recipient of a $90,000 landscaping grant, the award for communities of less than 3,000.

Nearby Nolanville was also an award recipient, of $110,000 for communities of 3,001-5,500 residents.

The awards recognize the best grassroots environmental programs in the state, and are awarded in 10 different population categories. Every community in Texas is eligible to apply for a Governor’s Community Achievement Award. A community’s environmental program is judged on achievements in seven different 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.

Keep Texas Beautiful and TxDOT first began working together in the late 1960s and have shared the common goals of making Texas roadways more attractive and safe for motorists and encouraging tourism. Since 1985, KTB has partnered with TxDOT to support its anti-litter and beautification programs such as Don’t mess with Texas Trash-Off and the Governor’s Community Achievement Awards. The GCAA program has recognized outstanding communities for more than 50 years, with TxDOT providing landscape funding since 1986.

“We’re so thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with TxDOT on the GCAA Awards. Congratulations to each of the award winners for being recognized for their hard work to beautify communities across Texas,” said Suzanne Kho, Executive Director of Keep Texas Beautiful.

KTB will formally recognize and present the awards during its 51st Annual Conference in Georgetown scheduled for June 11-13, 2018.

The communities of Salado, Nolanville, Brady, Seabrook, Katy, Lake Jackson, Grapevine, Baytown, Abilene and Irving were selected by a panel of judges to share $2 million divided by population category from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), to be used for landscaping projects along local rights-of-way within their communities.