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Community Beautification

Congratulations to All 2025 Green Grant Awardees!

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Green Grants LogoWe’re celebrating another successful year of our Green Grants program!

We were excited to see organizations step forward with thoughtful, inspiring ideas for positive changes in their communities. A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who applied—and a big congratulations to our 2025 Green Grant recipients! (See list and links below.)

With 112 grant applications vying for 30 grant awards, the judges had a challenging time evaluating and scoring the applications. We extend our sincere appreciation to our panel of expert judges for their thoughtful evaluation of each application.

We’re also deeply grateful to our sponsors – their support makes this program possible!

Below, you’ll find a recap of the 2025 grant awards, with links to each blog article to learn more.  The Green Grants program continues to showcase the power of volunteers and the ripple effect of community-driven action. The projects funded this year will not only beautify and improve local environments but also inspire others to follow suit.

Since 2011, Keep Virginia Beautiful has proudly awarded $360,250 in funding to support 435 projects across the Commonwealth. From bustling cities to quiet rural towns, historic parks to local municipalities, our grants have touched communities as diverse as Virginia itself.

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6/1/2025 The Flora of Virginia Project $500 Community Beautification
6/2/2025 Hands On Harvests $1,000 Recycling and Waste Reduction
6/3/2025 Rocktown High School Earth Club $750 Community Beautification
6/4/2025 Clean Essex Committee $1,000 Cigarette Litter Prevention and Recycling
6/5/2025 Olde Towne Business Association $500 Litter Prevention or Abatement
6/6/2025 Arrowhead Elementary School $1,000 Recycling and Waste Reduction
6/7/2025 Courts of St Francis HOA $1,000 Community Beautification
6/8/2025 Scottsville Center for Arts and Nature $1,000 Litter Prevention or Abatement
6/9/2025 Northstar Academy and Career Center $1,000 Recycling and Waste Reduction
6/10/2025 Our Health, Inc. $500 Community Beautification
6/11/2025 Coastal Composite Squadron $1,000 Cigarette Litter Prevention and Recycling
6/12/2025 Friends of Natural Bridge State Park $1,000 Recycling and Waste Reduction
6/13/2025 Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail $500 Community Beautification
6/14/2025 Rivanna Conservation Alliance $1,000 Litter Prevention or Abatement
6/15/2025 Elizabeth River Trail Foundation $1,000 Community Beautification
6/16/2025 Claytor Lake Chapter Izzak Walton League $1,000 Litter Prevention or Abatement
6/17/2025 Supernova Alliance $1,000 Cigarette Litter Prevention and Recycling
6/18/2025 Jonnie B. Deel Memorial Library $500 Recycling and Waste Reduction
6/19/2025 Lee County Garden Club $750 Community Beautification
6/20/2025 Tech For Troops $1,000 Recycling and Waste Reduction
6/21/2025 Friends of Peak Creek $500 Litter Prevention or Abatement
6/22/2025 Affordable Homes & Communities $1,000 Recycling and Waste Reduction
6/23/2025 Newport News Green Foundation $1,000 Community Beautification
6/24/2025 Barns of Rose Hill $1,000 Recycling and Waste Reduction
6/25/2025 Waterway Cleanups $1,000 Litter Prevention or Abatement
6/26/2025 Hopewell Recreation & Parks $1,000 Community Beautification
6/27/2025 Danville Science Center $1,000 Litter Prevention or Abatement
6/28/2025 Friends of Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office Co $1,000 Cigarette Litter Prevention and Recycling
6/29/2025 Downtown Greens $750 Community Beautification
6/30/2025 Virginia Institute of Marine Science $1,000 Recycling and Waste Reduction
Photo of native plants installed in a public place in Fredericksburg by Downtown Greens

Downtown Greens Awarded $750 Green Grant

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Photo of native plants installed in a public place in Fredericksburg by Downtown GreensDowntown Greens in City of Fredericksburg is awarded a $750 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address an environmental concern in their community. Grants must focus on one of the following priorities: Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification.

Downtown Greens is a non-profit organization in downtown Fredericksburg with a mission of making the lives of their community members better by connecting people with nature. Downtown Greens achieved that mission through land conservation and environmental stewardship of that land. For the past 30 years, they have worked tirelessly to provide safe and accessible green space to the residents of their community.

Funds provided by the Green Grant will be used to purchase native plants, such as American Alumroot, Golden Ragwort, Spreading Woodrush, Cardinal Flower, Hearts-a-Burstin’, and
Virginia Sweetspire.  They will also create custom educational signage.  By installing signage, it creates a record of which plants are intentionally installed there, what purpose they serve, and explain on-going management practices and ecological stewardship goals.

The focus of the Green Grant project area is one that has been cleared of the most invasive species, with work being done to install native plant species in that area to fill the voids. Another vital part of the project is to provide educational signage in that area, as well as free educational walks. The signage will not only help Downtown Green’s community, neighbors, and visitors to understand Downtown Greens’ mission and enhance the educational aspect of the space, but will also provide a map of the lower garden property.

Hopewell Recreation & Parks Awarded $1,000 Green Grant

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Blue and yellow drawing of a heron in front of the sun with the words Hopewell Recreation & Parks 1943Hopewell Recreation & Parks in Hopewell is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address an environmental concern in their community. Grants must focus on one of the following priorities: Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification.

The Hopewell Recreation and Parks Department offers a variety of recreational opportunities designed to improve the overall health and well-being of the community, and offers free fitness classes, gardening programs, wellness seminars, and other resources for citizens.

Photo of park with old sign and worn benchThe Hopewell Recreation and Parks Department Green Grant project involves the installation of a new park sign for 3 ½ Street Park as part of its ongoing renovation. The new park sign is a crucial component of the renovation, as it will impact the park in terms of both beautification and standardization. The updated signage will not only improve the overall appearance of the park but also align it with other newly renovated parks in Hopewell that have received similar signage updates. It will elevate the park’s attractiveness and conveys a message of care, attention, and investment that will contribute to the overall feeling of pride and ownership that the community feels for the park.

Community Beautification is a vital part of keeping Virginia Beautiful!  Visitors and residents of Hopewell will benefit from this efforts of this Green Grant project!

Barrel container holding a variety of pink ad purple flowers

Lee County Garden Club Awarded a Green Grant

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Barrel container holding a variety of pink ad purple flowersLee County Garden Club in Jonesville is awarded a $750 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address an environmental concern in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

Lee County Garden Club was formed in 1937 and pledged to protect and conserve the natural resources of the planet, becoming caretakers of air, water, forest, land and wildlife. Since then, a lot of the focus has been on the Jonesville area to improve the look of Main Street and Cumberland Park.  

When Hurricane Helene hit the area last fall, the winds destroyed the areas of the park, including the beautiful, covered pavilion, and several large old trees. On Main Street, the half-barrel pots were ruined as well as the hanging pots on the old-fashioned lampposts.  Members of the Lee County Garden Club will work to replace the barrel planters and hanging pots, and fill them with soil, flowers and mulch.  The second focus area for Community Beautification is in front of the town hall, which has only tree stumps remaining. 

With donations of plants purchased by members and funds provided by the Green Grant, the Garden Club will return Main Street and the park to its former beauty.  They will mulch borders, a few areas of perennials, dwarf trees, and add a bench and solar lights. A local contractor will be grinding the stumps at no charge to contribute to the beautification efforts. 

Hopefully, it will aid in the return to normalcy of the town after Helene struck and uplift the spirits of residents and visitors. 

Logo for Claytor Lake's Izaak Walton League of America with the drawn image of water, fish, deer, trees, and birds.

$1,000 Award Goes to Claytor Lake Chapter Izzak Walton League

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Logo for Claytor Lake's Izaak Walton League of America with the drawn image of water, fish, deer, trees, and birds.Claytor Lake Chapter Izzak Walton League in Pulaski is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Litter Prevention category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address environmental concerns in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

The Izaak Walton League of America, founded in 1922, is one of the country’s oldest and most respected conservation organizations that’s dedicated to the protection of natural resources and the promotion of outdoor recreation. The Claytor Lake Chapter has focused its efforts on the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of Virginia’s natural resources. Their work encompasses the preservation of forests, soil, water, and wildlife, supporting both local ecosystems and the broader environmental health of the region.

Each month, the Claytor Lake Chapter of the Izaak Walton League hosts dedicated workdays, where volunteers come together to help clean up the local roadways leading into the campground and the surrounding waterways. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Claytor Lake and the surrounding areas experienced significant damage, with debris from upstream flooding flowing into the cove where their campground is located. The flooding has pushed even more materials downstream into a nearby creek that runs through the community, further expanding Photograph of Claytor Lake with still blue water, grasses in the foreground, spit of land with trees, blue skythe area in need of cleanup.

The Chapter needs basic tools and equipment to help sustain these efforts.  Green Grant funds will be used to purchase battery-powered chain saw, gas-powered chain saw, safety vests, as well as grabbles and ropes for removing debris from the waterway. 

These tools will greatly enhance our Chapter’s ability to clean up Claytor Lake and the surrounding roadways. Not only will they make the work easier and safer for our volunteers, but they will also allow the organization to more effectively serve the community by removing hazardous debris and restoring the natural beauty of the area. With the help of these grant funds, the Claytor Lake Chapter can continue its important mission of environmental stewardship.

People picking up litter along the Elizabeth River Trail

Elizabeth River Trail Foundation Awarded $1,000 Green Grant

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People picking up litter along the Elizabeth River TrailElizabeth River Trail Foundation in Norfolk is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address environmental concerns in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation (ERTF) plans, programs, and advocates for the 10.5-mile Elizabeth River Trail, a multi-modal urban trail that connects 28 neighborhoods along Norfolk’s historic waterfront. Their vision is to be a global model of waterfront trail resilience and education, advancing connected communities, inclusive infrastructure, and economic development across a regional trail system. Over the past eight years, ERTF transformed the trail with public art, play structures, kayak launches, picnic areas, bike repair stations, and more. They have installed over 500 wayfinding signs and planted native trees and pollinator gardens.  

Logo that includes green, blue, and orange rectangles with the words Elizabeth River TrailThe Elizabeth River Trail Foundation’s “Nature For All” project is a collaborative initiative focused on horticultural education and environmental stewardship along the Elizabeth River Trail. The project offers hands-on educational experiences to deepen the community’s connection with nature and local ecosystems and provides a wide range of programs on topics like plant science, native species, soil health, sustainable gardening, and pest management. The Managed Meadow revitalization project is a key initiative under this effort, with ERTF working alongside Norfolk Master Gardeners and local experts to enhance biodiversity along the trail. 

Funds from the Green Grant will be used to purchase Virginia native plants, gardening tools, an on-deck storage bin, and other equipment for the project.

Field trips, workshops, and gardening projects will take place along the trail. Participants will learn how to cultivate gardens, plant native species, and apply sustainable practices to enhance the environmental health of the trail and the surrounding community. Current programs include 6-8 botanical tours annually, led by Master Gardeners, which showcase the significant trees along the Elizabeth River Trail. With support from Keep Virginia Beautiful, Nature For All will advance sustainability, conservation, and environmental education, making the ERT a model for urban trail ecology and equitable public space development. 

Photo of brick-walled vegetable gardens with plants ready to be planted by smiling volunteer adults.

$1,000 Green Grant Awarded to Our Health

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Photo of brick-walled vegetable gardens with plants ready to be planted by smiling volunteer adults.Our Health in Winchester is awarded a $500 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address environmental concerns in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

Our Health is a nonprofit organization that improves access to quality healthcare and human services for individuals and families in need, partnering with 97 nonprofit organizations throughout the Northern Shenandoah Valley.  

Logo with the words Our Health, Connecting Partners, Saving CommunityOur Health has a Community Garden that is used as an educational tool, inviting people to help with the planting and maintenance of the garden during the warm weather months. The Community Garden has become a staple in this region during the growing season for people to come and gather fresh produce to eat and cook meals. Funds provided by the Green Grant will be used to purchase a Maze Compost Tumbler and Cart Combo so that they can remove dead plants and other yard and food waste to be processed in the composter; then use the composted material to fertilize their garden. This grant will help Our Health provide healthy food choices for those experiencing food insecurity.  

Executive Director, Sharen Gromling, said that this this project will do two things for the organization, the clients we serve, and the community at large: addressing food insecurity, and the difference that the compost tumbler and cart will make in the community garden, making the campus more beautiful and inviting. The garden is very visible to those that drive by the campus. The more that clients feel safe and secure, the more work that can be done to improve their health and their lives.

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The Courts of St. Francis Homeowners Association Awarded $1,000

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Green Grants LogoCourts of St. Francis Homeowners Association in Loudoun County is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address environmental concerns in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

The Courts of St Francis is a 25-year-old urban-designed neighborhood community located in the heart of downtown Purcellville. Each summer, Courts of St Francis hosts an event called “A Night Out” where first responders enjoy a cookout with the community and children in their park. People of all ages and circumstances enjoy walking in the unique layout of the neighborhood, which facilitates social interactions with homeowners and visitors.  

Photo of entrance way to Courts of St. Francis neighborhood with wooden sign and landscaping in need of renovationThe Homeowners Association seeks to make an environmental impact by transitioning the plantings in its twelve common areas to include more native plants.  Working with Loudoun County Master Gardeners, Loudoun Invasive Removal Association, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, Piedmont Environmental Council, Blue Ridge Regional Invasive Species Management, and the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, they have evaluated the needs of the twelve common areas and completed a detailed list of appropriate native plants. 

Green Grant funds will be used to purchase native plants, bushes, and trees to enhance and rejuvenate the community. The current condition of the land is poor and deficient because the plantings were mainly dead, deemed invasive, and incorrect for the space that receives an abundance of sun. The plan includes installing boulders and steppingstones that will encourage people to sit in the garden. 

Installation of native plants that support pollinators and other wildlife will create a beautiful garden that the public can enjoy while walking their dog, pushing a stroller, going to church, or waiting to start their school day. 

Logo for Rocktown High School's Earth Club, including a dinosaur with a rake and garden hat.

Rocktown High School Earth Club Receives $750 Green Grant

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Logo for Rocktown High School's Earth Club, including a dinosaur with a rake and garden hat.Rocktown High School Earth Club in Harrisonburg City is awarded a $750 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address an environmental concern in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

Rocktown High School Earth Club is an after-school club dedicated to environmental advocacy, sustainability initiatives, and fostering appreciation for the natural world. Their mission includes creating and supporting student-led projects that promote environmental health and awareness from hands-on conservation. 

The Rocktown High School Earth Club’s primary focus has been the design and implementation of a school pollinator garden; a space aimed to support local biodiversity and educate the school’s community about native ecosystems. The club will create bird houses, pollinator habitats, and donate acorns to educational outreach.  Funds provided by the Green Grant award will be used to create educational signs for the garden, and to purchase native fall plants from a local greenhouse. The Natural Gardens sell “habitat packs” that are customized to fit specific environmental conditions suited to the high school’s garden area.

The addition of educational signage will allow the garden to serve as a year-round learning space for both students and staff, making environmental education more accessible beyond their club meetings. These signs will serve as a visual and informational anchor for the garden, enhancing its role as a teaching tool across communities.  By incorporating fall-blooming native plants, they will extend the ecological impact of the garden beyond spring and summer, ensuring critical support for pollinators into the later months of the school year. This year-round habitat not only benefits wildlife but also enables them to maintain momentum and student engagement through hands-on activities in the fall. Furthermore, it opens up educational opportunities for teachers to engage with the garden during the fall months, broadening the garden’s role as a living classroom across more of the academic year.

The increased awareness of native plants and their role in a sustainable garden is an important lesson for everyone.  Thank you, Rocktown High School Earth Club, for demonstrating this important message in your community!

Students at lunch table being served by an adult, using compostable plates and forks.

Apply for a Green Grant Before April 30

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Green button with hand pointing to it, indicating "Apply Now"Apply before it’s too late!

If you’ve been thinking about applying for one of the thirty Green Grants that will be awarded, now’s the time to complete your application and submit it by April 30, 2025!  You can learn more about the Green Grants program HERE.

The online application form is short and simple!  Just tell us a little about your organization, your contact information, explain your project or program, tell us your budget, and state how you’ll measure your results!  You can request a grant that suits the size of your project for $500, $750, or $1,000.

  • Are you tired of cigarette butt litter in front of your business, library, or park? Did you know that cigarette butts are recyclable?  The plastic in cigarette butt filters can be melted down and remade into valuable things, like park benches!  Apply for a Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling grant to get the supplies, tools, and information you need to combat the cigarette butt litter problem!
  • Does your homeowners association, school, or faith community want to start a composting program?  Or want to host a Community Fix-it Fair to repair people’s items instead of adding them to the landfill?  Apply for a Recycling grant!
  • Does your youth group, Scouts, or other organization take part in cleanups, and need litter grabbers, vests, or other supplies for your group to conduct future cleanups?  Apply for a Litter Prevention grant!
  • Is there a vacant lot in your community that’s overgrown with invasive species and would be transformed into a public green space with some improvements?  Or an area that would benefit from painting over graffiti?  Then apply for a Community Beautification grant!

Here’s a couple of award winners from last year to give you some ideas of great work that can be done with Green Grants:

Students at lunch table being served by an adult, using compostable plates and forks.St. Patrick’s School, Norfolk, Virginia:  Students requested a change to using Styrofoam plates and containers for teachers and students who receive lunch “to go” when eating away the cafeteria for testing, meetings, or special events.

With funds from their Green Grants award, the school purchased compostable salad plates, forks, and clamshell containers.  The administration and the dining hall staff are committed to the effort of a more Earthy-friendly dining experience on campus!

Recycling bin a summer Boy Scout Camp in scenic mountain areaBlue Ridge Mountain Council Boy Scouts, Pulaski County, Virginia:  Today’s youth are in tune with recycling and given the opportunity to take part, will do it. That wasn’t possible at Camp Powhatan before last Summer.  The County did not offer the service, the camp did not have the dedicated recycle bins, and there was not a culture in place to recycle.

With the implementation of the bins and the addition of a rented compacting dumpster for recycling, the Scouts were able to recycle hundreds of pounds of plastic and aluminum!

If you want more ideas and inspiration, take a look at last year’s Green Grants projects and programs.  Just follow this link for a list of awards.  To see all that they accomplished, see their results HERE!

REMEMBER TO SUBMIT YOUR GRANT APPLICATION BY MIDNIGHT ON APRIL 30th!

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