Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful Wins $1K Grant

Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful has been awarded a $1,000 grant in the Cigarette Litter Prevention Category.  The KVB grant program focuses greater resources and attention on individual localities throughout the Commonwealth and how they are addressing the issues of litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, beautification and education.  In honor of Earth Month, Keep Virginia Beautiful (KVB) is awarding “30 Grants In 30 Days” in April, 2011.

Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful (KSVB) is the largest, regional Keep America Beautiful affiliate in the nation, including nine counties and two cities with a combined population of 269,708. KSVB plans to utilize grant funds to enhance and to expand its highly successful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program in far Southwest Virginia.  Seven localities have been determined to be in need of the greatest expansion to the existing Cigarette Litter Campaign.  Results will be quantified through the use of KAB’s scan technique and local business owners will be polled to determine the hot spots, where the most work needs to be done.  Receptacles, pocket ashtrays, signage, and adult education materials will be purchased and distributed throughout the 7 localities.  Public awareness is the most important aspect of any successful cigarette litter campaign and KSVB has years of experience educating the public and creating community involvement opportunities.  For more information on Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful and their project, please contact Bobby Justus at 276-889-8145 or [email protected].

KVB provided the opportunity for government, non-profit and/or service organizations in Virginia to apply for one of (30) $1,000 grants in three different categories: 10 grants for plastic bag reduction and recycling, 10 grants for cigarette litter prevention, and 10 grants for community greening and beautification.  These grants are made possible by KVB’s partners, Walmart and Waste Management.

The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment.  Our goals include becoming the leading statewide voice, providing a framework for improved communication and collaboration, cultivating and supporting sustainable programs, and engaging citizens by linking them to volunteer opportunities and information through these 5 impact areas:  Litter PreventionWaste ReductionRecycling,Beautification, and Environmental Education.