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30 IN 30

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Green Grants Applications Are Live

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Green Grants LogoWe had a terrific turnout for our Shiver in the River mission challenge!  We completed or 2,021 mile path around the Commonwealth, where one bag of litter or one environmental act equaled one mile.  Thank you to everyone who helped us reach this goal – to those who donated, who cleaned up litter, who started gardens and cleared out invasive plants.  And a special shout-out to the groups that went above last weekend as part of the Great American Cleanup, it was the extra effort that put us across the finish line!

One of the other benefits of the challenge was that we met many new people from all corners of the state!  We also learned about the needs of different communities, such as safe cleanup equipment and supplies, graffiti abatement, recycling programs – which is why we started our 30 in 30 Green Grants initiative in 2011.

We are now accepting grant applications for our annual 30 in 30 Green Grants program!  Since 2011, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $254,500 for 320 different programs and projects throughout the state.  Groups can apply in four different categories, for grants of $500, $750, or $1,000 to carry out their environmental projects or programs.

And because 2020 was a year that brought the national spotlight to diversity, equity, and inclusion, our organization met to determine how we could better support these groups. We decided to create a special focus of our Green Grants this year to add five additional grant awards specifically to diverse groups and underserved populations. This will raise our grant award commitment to 35 grants in 30 days!

You have until April 30th to submit your application.  A panel of judges who are experts in their fields will evaluate and score the applications during the month of May.  Then the awards will be announced each day during the month of June on our website and through social media.

Questions?  We’ve got answers.  Learn more about the Green Grants program!  We are grateful to our sponsors for this year’s 30 in 30 Green Grant program:  Altria, Coca-Cola, WestRock, and Keep America Beautiful!

Plastic Produce Bag

It’s in the Bag

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Knowing that plastic bags at grocery stores are a huge litter problem, Halifax County Quality of Place Work Group wanted to do something about it.  This organization is a product of the community strategic plan conducted by the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce last year.  Community leaders volunteer their time and talent to make a difference in the county where they live and work.

They applied to Keep Virginia Beautiful’s Green Grants program in the Recycling category, with the desire to change the littering and recycling culture in the county in southwest Virginia.

Their plan was to use their farmers markets to implement a campaign called, “It’s in the Bag.”  Two markets — Downtown South Boston Farmer’s Market and Town of Halifax Farmer’s Market – each set up a “Litter Prevention Station.” These stations gave a reusable mesh bag to customers.  They also had a receptacle there to collect used plastic bags for recycling.

During the campaign, volunteers at tables at the farmers markets were able to use the opportunity to talk with the public, give them informational material, answer questions, and educate them on the value of taking and using a reusable mesh produce bag instead of the single-use disposable plastic bags that are commonly available.

Josie Turcotte, Secretary of the Quality of Place Work Group, said their “It’s in the Bag” campaign was a success.  Although presented with some challenges with COVID restrictions and guidelines, they were able to distribute 348 reusable produce bags at the farmers market this past Summer.  She said the campaign was a good platform to be able to talk to community members on the effects of litter, and begin to create a litter-free culture.

They also collected over 2,000 used plastic bags for recycling!

Thank you Halifax County for caring about the problem with plastic bags, and for taking steps to move your community members towards better recycling habits.

R - Fixit Fair

Repairing Is Recycling

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Jewelry Repair

Recycling isn’t just about melting down metal, or turning paper into pulp to create more paper. Repurposing or repairing are two other options that can make an otherwise discarded item useful again. Here’s an example of a group that was able to think outside the box — I mean recycling bin.

Keep Prince William Beautiful, Inc. is a non-profit environmental organization that serves Prince William County by partnering with residents, businesses and government to educate and inspire people to be environmental stewards.

They wanted to offer an alternative way for people to avoid adding items to the landfill or the process of recycling by encouraging community members to repair small household items that could still be usable. Items such as jewelry, clothing, small appliances, electronics, eyeglasses, bicycles, and small furniture that could use a little attention would be put back into service, rather than being thrown away.

Keep Prince William Beautiful applied for one of our Green Grants for $750 in the Recycling category. Their proposal stated they would offer a stipend of $75 to each of ten professional “fixers” to help them accomplish their Fixit Fair.

The Fixit Fair was held last weekend, and it was a success! While they were originally going to host the event in a library’s Community Center, they needed to make adjustments due to the COVID guidelines. They decided it would be more safety conscious to host the event outside under a canopied structure at the County Government Complex. Also, instead of having a “first come, first served” service, they required registration and for attendees to drop off their items for repair.

Forty-three community members brought various broken items to see if they could be repaired rather than thrown out. In each case, the fixers were able to determine the problem for each of the broken items. They successfully repaired several pieces of wooden and metal furniture, bicycles, jewelry, clothing, televisions, computers, and even a beloved stuffed octopus who was in need of repair!

They plan to host another Fixit Fair in the future, and are certain that the need and the response will continue to grow!

Do you think a Fixit Fair would be successful in your community?

 

Bear-proof recycling bin

Recycling and Bears, Oh My!

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Bear-proof recycling binBears may be cute on wildlife posters, but they weren’t helpful with recycling efforts for one group. Plenty!, a Food Pantry in Floyd, Virginia, takes what is considered waste – from farms, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. – and turns it into food to feed hungry people.  Last year Plenty! shared 117 tons of food with more than 1,937 individuals, working to lessen food insecurity and isolation through its Food Pantry, Portable Produce, Organic Farm and Gardens, and Community Lunch programs in their southwest corner of the Commonwealth.

However, one by-product of the grocery store recovery effort is the hundreds of pounds of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET 1) plastic deli containers from donated food that are disposed of every week. Although that type of plastic is recyclable, they could not collect and store the empty containers due to one rather large, threatening reason: BEAR! They could not keep the empty food containers outside because they didn’t have anything large enough and strong enough to hold the plastic that wouldn’t be vulnerable to bears destroying while attempting to get to the used plastic containers.  It bothered them that the clamshell containers had to be put in the trash.

So they applied for a Green Grant from Keep Virginia Beautiful, and were awarded $750.00 to help solve their bear problem. They purchased a “Haul All Equipment Bear Proof Trash Can” and installed it outside of their Food Pantry in July, 2020.

Since that time, they have been able to collect three garbage bags full of #1 recyclable plastic each week for recycling! Kerry Ackerson, Executive Director of Plenty! said that they are now able to recycle the countless deli clamshells and other #1 prepared food containers that are donated to their food pantry each week by their local grocery store and university dining halls.

We thank you Plenty! for the work you do in your community, and for your recycling efforts! It’s a beautiful thing!

Garden Sign

It’s a Beautiful Thing!

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This is one of the best times of the year for our organization.  It’s when we get the results of the projects and programs that were awarded a 30 in 30 Green Grant back in June.  Even with some delays and redirection due to the pandemic, people in communities all across our Commonwealth were able to make a difference with the grant funds we awarded, thanks to support from Altria, in partnership with Coca-Cola and Keep America Beautiful.

The West Piedmont Planning District Commission submitted a proposal for a $1,000 grant in the Community Beautification category, to construct a demonstration garden at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School.  The school has an 1100-foot Nature Trail that includes an outdoor classroom area.  They wanted to install native plants along the trail, with informational signs, plant markers, and interpretive material to help educate the public about native plants.

It took six volunteers to prepare the area and install the plantings.  The first task was to remove non-native invasive species and poison ivy from the areas where the native plants would be installed. Franklin County Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners committed to provide volunteer hours to plant and maintain the demonstration garden areas.

Plants that are native to Virginia provide a natural habitat for wildlife and require less water, but need no fertilizer or pesticides.  This reduces the amount of chemicals in the landscape, which maintains the water quality in nearby rivers and streams.

West Piedmont PDC also developed a website for the demonstration garden: https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/franklin-county-bfms-garden.  The website includes an educational brochure about the plants at the garden.   The area will provide advanced educational opportunities for the 6,880 Franklin County students, as well as the general public. Approximately 1,300 students attend Benjamin Franklin Middle School.

The hope is that this is the first of many demonstration gardens across Virginia’s Southern Piedmont region to showcase the native plants and educate students and visitors about the value and need for native plants.

Now that’s a beautiful thing!

Green Grants Logo

Here are the Thirty Green Grant Awards for 2020!

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Congratulations to this year’s thirty Green Grants awards! As our program grows each year, we have so many more deserving projects applying for grants. We had a record number of applications this year, and the judges had a difficult time choosing! We are grateful to our judges for all the time they spent reading, evaluating, and scoring the grant applications. They are experts in their fields, and we appreciate their talent!

Since 2011, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $254,500 for 320 different projects throughout the state! We’ve awarded grants to urban areas, rural counties, historic parks, and municipalities — places as diverse as the Commonwealth herself.

The 30 in 30 Green Grants program demonstrates the power of volunteers and people who have the desire to make a difference in the communities where they live. And the impact of the projects and programs they carry out is multiplied by the number of people who see, and hopefully follow, their example. We are proud to be part of this impact, and we are grateful to our partner Altria, along with additional support from Coca-Cola and Keep America Beautiful.

Here is a recap of the 2020 award winners:

June 1: Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage

June 2: Plenty!

June 3: Augusta County

June 4: Keep Prince William Beautiful

June 5: Substance Abuse Free Environment

June 6: Accomack – Northampton Planning District Commission

June 7: Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions

June 8: City of Salem

June 9: Tech for Troops

June 10: West Piedmont Planning District

June 11: Petersburg Battlefields Foundation

June 12: Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council

June 13: University of Lynchburg

June 14: Hampton Roads Planning District Council

June 15: Williamsburg Classical Academy

June 16: Hopewell Youth

June 17: Keep Henrico Beautiful

June 18: Virginia State University

June 19: Naturally, Newport News

June 20: Town of Scottsville

June 21: Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful

June 22: Blue Ridge Conservation Alliance

June 23: Communities in Schools Hampton Roads

June 24: Friends of Bryan Park

June 25: Staunton River State Park

June 26: Halifax County

June 27: Broadwater Academy

June 28: Keep Suffolk Beautiful

June 29: Center for Natural Capital

June 30: Renew Richmond

 

                  

Meet Our Panel of Judges 30 in 30 Green Grants

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We just completed announcing the thirty grant winners for the 2020 Green Grants awards on June 30th, and we are thrilled with the success of the program this year.  There was a record number of applications, as well as some unique programs and projects that will be happening all over the Commonwealth.

The Green Grant awards could not take place without the hard work of our judging panel , such a talented group!  We want to thank them for their expertise, knowing that it takes a lot of time to read and score the grant applications, and take today to recognize them here.  Thank you so much!

Community Beautification

Lane Guilliam, former KVB Board member, Wilton House Museum
Nancy Heltman, Dept. of Conservation and Recreation
Eunice Kulesza, Senior Environmental Compliance Specialist Fareva
Chris Vassey, Esquire, Thomson Reuters, KVB Board member

Litter Prevention and Cigarette Litter Prevention

Carol W. Doss, former KVB Board member, Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful
Kris Ferguson, Recycling Coordinator, Ferguson Environmental Consulting
Suzanne Taylor, Financial Responsibility Programs Coordinator, Department of Environmental Quality
Julia Hillegass, Agricultural Reserve Program Coordinator, City of Virginia Beach

Recycling

Chris Conley, Vice President of Environment, Health, Safety and Stewardship, Afton Chemical
Lisa Moerner, Director Corporate Public Policy, Dominion Energy
Douglas Sharo, Senior Program Manager of Sustainability, WestRock
Cathy Warner, GHD Engineering Consultants
Julie Williams-Daves, Technical Specialist, Dominion Energy

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The Last Green Grant Goes to Renew Richmond!

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The thirtieth grant award for 30 in 30 Green Grants for 2020 goes to Renew Richmond in the amount of $1,000 for their Community Beautification project!

Renew Richmond is a nonprofit organization that was established in 2009 to cultivate healthier, more self-empowered communities through agriculture and education.  They work with several Richmond schools to develop school gardens, promote food access, and offer education in agriculture and environmental sustainability.

Renew Richmond is in the final stages of transforming a neglected 1.5-acre parcel of land next to Armstrong High School into a thriving community farm and education center.  As the farm grows, they plan to incorporate a number of regenerative practices including pollinator gardens, increased biodiversity and native species plants, rain barrels, composting, and solar energy to power farm essentials.

They will use grant funds awarded by Keep Virginia Beautiful to buy trees, flowers, and bushes for the farm.

Thank you to Renew Richmond, and all of this year’s award recipients, for the programs and projects you’re doing for Virginia!

 

Green Grants Logo

Our 30 in Thirty Green Grants Recap for 2020!

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Congratulations to this year 30 Green Grants awards!  As our program grows each year, we have so many more deserving projects applying for grants.  We had a record number of applications this year, and the judges had a difficult time choosing!

We want to thank our judges for their dedication to reading, evaluating, and scoring all the grant applications.  They are experts in their fields, and we appreciate their time!

Since 2011, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $254,500 for 320 different projects throughout the state!  We’ve awarded grants to urban areas, rural counties, historic parks, and municipalities — places as diverse as the Commonwealth herself.

The 30 in 30 Green Grants program demonstrates the power of volunteers and people who have the desire to make a difference in the communities where they live.  And the impact of the projects and programs they carry out is multiplied by the number of people who see, and hopefully follow, their example.  We are proud to be part of this impact, and we are grateful to our sponsors.

Here is a recap of the 2020 projects:

June 1: Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage

June 2: Plenty!

June 3: Augusta County

June 4: Keep Prince William Beautiful

June 5: Substance Abuse Free Environment

June 6: Accomack – Northampton Planning District Commission

June 7: Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions

June 8: City of Salem

June 9: Tech for Troops

June 10: West Piedmont Planning District

June 11: Petersburg Battlefields Foundation

June 12: Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council

June 13: University of Lynchburg

June 14: Hampton Roads Planning District Council

June 15: Williamsburg Classical Academy

June 16: Hopewell Youth

June 17: Keep Henrico Beautiful

June 18: Virginia State University

June 19: Naturally, Newport News

June 20: Town of Scottsville

June 21: Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful

June 22: Blue Ridge Conservation

June 23: Communities in Schools Hampton Roads

June 24: Friends of Bryan Park

June 25: Staunton River State Park

June 26: Halifax County

June 27: Broadwater Academy

June 28: Keep Suffolk Beautiful

June 29: Center for Natural Capital

June 30: Renew Richmond

Follow this link to see our 2019 Recipients.

                                                          

 

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$1,000 Awarded to Center for Natural Capital for Litter Prevention

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The Center for Natural Capital develops programs and projects that create employment to restore nature and build resilient communities. Through their Stream Sweepers program, they have removed over 2,500 tires and 67,000 pounds of trash since 2013, while providing meaningful training and employment opportunities for more than 80 young people across Virginia. The boats they use to conduct the cleanups have been worn down with use.

While they usually receive donated boats to repair, they have seen a decrease in repairable and usable boat donations. Center for Natural Capital will now be able to use funds awarded by Keep Virginia Beautiful to purchase new boats to continue their cleanups.

Good luck Stream Sweepers!

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