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People are a Cash Crop for Virginia

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It’s not what you think: we’re not talking about growing and harvesting people.

Virginia’s economy is driven by a number of factors. Long a magnet for tobacco farmers, agriculture remains a key factor in our economy. Northern Virginia, once our dairy capital, now hosts giant technology firms and defense contractors. Work for the federal government, in fact, has a huge impact. Virginia has the highest defense spending per capita of any state in America.

But when you look at Northern Virginia, you often ignore what else happens there: Wineries. People travel to Virginia to visit wineries – from Stafford to the Route 5 Corridor, along the Northern Neck and nestled against the Blue Ridge Mountains. And when we mention agriculture, we would be remiss to ignore the $11 million pumpkins brought to Virginia in 2018. We shipped pumpkins around the world, and folks from Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and further visited Virginia to pick their own gourd.

We shared an article recently about the loss of coal jobs in Southwest Virginia. That’s been horrible for their economy. But a booming new economy is growing around those who’ve long known that areas like Tazwell, the Roanoke River Gorge, and Catawba offer some of the best rock climbing around.

Virginia has it all when it comes to tourism. One could spend the morning surfing in Virginia Beach, bike the Capital Trail into Richmond, and spend the afternoon rock climbing somewhere along Skyline Drive. When people come to Virginia so kayak and hike, to ski and sail, they spend money. They stop for gas. They stock up on supplies at our local markets. They take a break for a meal in your local restaurant. The rent the equipment they need and buy the equipment they don’t have.

Tourism in Virginia generated $26 billion in visitor spending in 2018.

That’s Billion with a “B.”

That was a 4.4% increase over 2017, and it grows every year. It supported over 235,000 jobs, making it the sixth largest employer in the Commonwealth. With the incredible number of people who either work for or with the federal government in Virginia (from the shipyards of Norfolk to the military contractors in Fairfax), that’s a huge number.

That’s one of the reasons why we’ve been giving away cleanup kits and cigarette butt receptacles through September, and now again in October. Eliminating litter creates better, healthier, and more productive neighborhoods. It makes that autumn drive to enjoy the foliage a more enjoyable excursion for our out-of-state visitors.

And that’s like money in the bank.

All photos courtesy of Dave Parrish Photography

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Our 30 in Thirty Green Grants Recap for 2019!

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The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment. We believe in a shared responsibility to end littering, improve recycling and beautify communities.

To honor that commitment to the Commonwealth, we funded thirty grant recipients – one each day in the month of June – for our “30 in Thirty Green Grants” program. These grants were given to schools, parks, counties and towns, environmental groups, associations, and Keep America Beautiful affiliates in four different categories:   Community Beautification, Cigarette Litter Prevention, Litter Prevention, and Recycling. Since 2011, we have provided $230,000 for 290 different projects throughout the state. We are grateful for the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

Throughout the next year, each of these Green Grant Winners will update us on their successes in putting their funding to good work. We appreciate THEIR commitment and especially their partnership in keeping Virginia beautiful.

And now, here are our 2019 Winners!

(Listed by Organization – Category – Amount – City)

Keep Manassas Beautiful   – Cigarette Litter Prevention  – $1,000  – Manassas

Harmony Hall Farm HOA    – Litter Prevention  – $750  – Wicomico Church

Deep Creek Middle School  – Litter Prevention  – $1,000  – Chesapeake

Real Chances, Inc.    – Community Beautification  – $1,000  – Richmond

Rappahannock Group Sierra Club    – Litter Prevention   – $1,000   – Fredericksburg

Friends of Norfolk’s Environment   – Community Beautification  – $1,000  – Norfolk

Frederick County Recycling    – Recycling  – $750  – Winchester

Virginia State University   – Cigarette Litter Prevention  – $1,000  – Petersburg

Sacred Heart Center  – Community Beautification  – $1,000  – Richmond

Virginia Capital Trail Foundation  – Litter Prevention – $750 – Richmond

Pennington Partners  – Cigarette Litter Prevention – $1,000  – Pennington Gap

Friends of Twin Lakes State Park  – Recycling  – $1,000 – Green Bay

Belvedere Elementary School   – Community Beautification  – $750 – Falls Church

City of Waynesboro Stormwater Program  – Cigarette Litter Prevention  – $500  – Waynesboro

Cove Ridge Foundation   – Recycling  – $1,000  – Duffield

Rappahannock County Recreational Facilities  – Community Beautification – $1,000 – Washington

Hanover Arts and Activities Center  – Community Beautification  – $1,000  – Ashland

Friends of Peak Creek, Inc.  – Cigarette Litter Prevention  – $500 – Pulaski

Albemarle County Public Schools  – Recycling  – $1,000 – Charlottesville

Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad  – Community Beautification – $1,000 – Virginia Beach

Town of Hillsville, Virginia  – Recycling – $1,000  – Hillsville

Clean Valley Council – Cigarette Litter Prevention – $1,000 – Roanoke

Virginia Zoological Society  – Recycling – $1,000 – Norfolk

Va. Dept. of Environmental Quality – NOVA   – Cigarette Litter Prevention – $500 – Woodbridge

Seeds of Change Organization  – Litter Prevention – $500 – Richmond

Dickenson County Chamber/Visitor Center  – Community Beautification – $1,000 – Clintwood

Isle of Wight County – Litter Prevention – $1,000 – Isle of Wight

Keep Virginia Cozy, Inc. – Recycling – $750 – Richmond

Clean Fairfax – Recycling – $1,000 – Fairfax

Soil Cycles HVA – Recycling – $1,000 – Harrisonburg

 

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Isle of Wight County Wins Litter Prevention Green Grant

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We are awarding our annual “30 in Thirty Green Grants” daily during the month of June. Since 2011 we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

Isle of Wight County in Hampton Roads has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $1000 for its Litter Prevention project. Isle of Wight County services waste needs for approximately 14,000 households. The County will implement a project to prevent litter called, “Teach Up the Pick Up.” It will focus on educating children about litter prevention, and getting students involved in school and roadside cleanups. They will also aim to prevent litter on highways through a “Cover Your Load” campaign. Funds received from our grant will be used to purchase educational materials for students, cleanup supplies, and “Cover Your Load” informational signs.

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Department of Environmental Quality wins for Skate Park Litter

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Virginia Department of Environmental Quality – Northern Regional Office (DEQ) in Woodbridge, has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $500 for its Cigarette Litter Prevention project. DEQ’s mission is to protect and enhance Virginia’s environment, and promote the health and well-being of the citizens of the Commonwealth. The organization will use their grant funding to combat cigarette litter in a skate park at Veteran’s Memorial Park. DEQ will purchase cigarette disposal receptacles and educational signs to place throughout the park. The park staff will empty and maintain the receptacles, including participation in a free Cigarette Waste Recycling Program.

Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

 

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Clean Valley Council Wins Green Grant

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The The Clean Valley Council provides education and outreach on litter prevention and recycling throughout Roanoke County.  They have been awarded a $1,000 30 in Thirty Green Grant in the Cigarette Litter Prevention Category. They will connect with a group of 40 active senior citizens at Brandon Oaks Retirement Community to collect cigarette butts and educate them about cigarette litter prevention. They will go to Lakewood Park and to Fishburn Park to pick up cigarette litter and any other litter that is found. The goal is to prevent future cigarette litter by installing two cigarette butt receptacles in each park. Funds awarded by us will go to purchase cleanup supplies and cigarette butt receptacles.

Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

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Friends of Peak Creek win big for Litter Prevention!

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We are celebrating June by giving away a 30 in Thirty Green Grant each day of the month. Today’s winner is Friends of Peak Creek, Inc. in Pulaski, who have been awarded a grant of $500 for its Cigarette Litter Prevention project.

Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

Friends of Peak Creek, Inc. is a volunteer organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and enhancing the Peak Creek Watershed. The grant funds will go towards the organization’s project called, “Stash Your Ash.” Friends of Peak Creek, Inc. will place commercial cigarette butt receptacles throughout the town of Pulaski in order to reduce cigarette litter. Educational materials about cigarette butt litter will also be posted on their website, social media platforms, and local newspapers.

Waynesboro Pavilion

City of Waynesboro Wins 30 in Thirty for Stormwater

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The City of Waynesboro Stormwater Program has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $500 for its Cigarette Litter Prevention project.

The City of Waynesboro Stormwater Program has programs and partnerships for Public Education. They identified two Pavilions in Constitution Park, located in Downtown Waynesboro, as ideal places to reduce litter from cigarette butts and to inform the public about why they are working to eliminate this source of unwanted waste. This will reduce the amount of cigarette butt litter collected in storm water runoff that is eventually carried down to the river. Funds received from us will be used to purchase cigarette butt receptacles, and to create educational signs to be posted in the area.

During the month of June, we’re awarding a Green Grant each day to groups and organizations that match our mission to keep Virginia beautiful. Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

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Pennington Partners wins Green Grant for Cigarette Litter

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Pennington Partners, in Lee County, has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $1000 for their Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.

Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

The Pennington Partners was formed as a way for business owners or those who work in the town to be involved in the future of the town of Pennington Gap. The town has a large prevalence of smokers, and the improper disposal of butts greatly distracts from the potential beauty of the town. Pennington Partners plan to place five cigarette disposal receptacles along the sidewalks downtown, as well as ten receptacles along the new walking trail, “The Greenway.” This will encourage better habits for proper disposal of cigarette butts, and set a precedence for visitors to their town. In addition to placing the receptacles, the Pennington Partners and volunteers will form a committee that will pick up the existing butts in those areas.

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Virginia Capital Trail Foundation wins 30 in Thirty

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The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance, promote, and be an advocate for the Virginia Capital Trail, a 52-mile pedestrian and bicycle trail connecting Richmond and Williamsburg. Unfortunately, the trail is often littered with fast food containers, cigarette butts, alcohol containers, old clothes, and other trash from passing cars. Volunteer “Cleanup Captains” regularly lead groups spread out along the trail to pick up litter.

Funds will be used to create four litter packs for future cleanups. Supplies such as trash bags, trash grabbers and gloves will be purchased in order to provide to all the volunteers involved.

Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, in Richmond, has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $750 for its Litter Prevention project.

Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

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Virginia State University Tackles Cig Litter with Green Grant

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Today, Virginia State University (VSU) has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $1,000 for their Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.

Virginia State University will conduct a student environmental service project in the fall that will remove cigarette litter, trash and contaminants from campus storm drainage structures, called Filterras, which are designed to filter contaminants from run-off, and improve water quality flowing into streams and rivers. The students will see the amount of cigarette butts that have accumulated, and will remove, count and weigh the contents, demonstrating the cumulative severity of the problem. Grant funds will be used to purchase eight large-capacity cigarette butt receptacles to place near residence halls on campus. The importance of the receptacles, and their locations, will be communicated via email and on social media to all students. The effort aims to prevent the Filterras from clogging, and allow their efficiency to continue to improve the water quality.

 

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