Community Beautification

Green background with words Time is running out! Apply for a Green Grant before midnight, April 30; clock with legs running, KVB logo, tiny URL: https://tinyurl.com/2fxd59nf

$500 – $1,000 Grant Apply Through April 30

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Green background with words Time is running out! Apply for a Green Grant before midnight, April 30; clock with legs running, KVB logo, tiny URL: https://tinyurl.com/2fxd59nfWe know that YOU can do great things in your communities, and WE want to help!

We’re awarding $500, $750, and $1,000 Green Grants to groups to improve the natural and scenic environment of Virginia.  Since 2011, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $307,000 for 415 programs and projects throughout the state.  The program has been so successful because of the nonprofits, schools, faith-based organizations, civic leagues, “Friends of” groups, Scouts, and others who see a need where they live, and apply for a grant to get it accomplished.

You can apply for a Green Grant in any of the four categories:  Litter Prevention, Cigarette Litter Prevention, Community Beautification, and Recycling.  The applications are evaluated and scored by a panel of experts in their fields, and in June, one Green Grant award is announced one each day, until all thirty awards have been revealed.

The general Grant Application Guidelines should be read before an application is submitted. Click here to start a 2024 Green Grant Application.

Applications are due before midnight on Tuesday, April 30, 2024!

Here are some past awards for inspiration:

  • Friends of a city park installed cigarette butt receptacles in the parking lot and at entrances to the park, to eliminate cigarette butt litter that can clog storm drains and harm wildlife.
  • A church parish started a composting collection program, yielding an average of 50 pounds of food waste that would have been sent to the landfill, but is processed to create rich compost.
  • Classrooms at an elementary school are collecting markers and pens to be recycled through TerraCycle.
  • A neighborhood civic league used grant funds to purchase litter grabbers, safety vests, gloves, and florescent hats for the safety of volunteers during their roadside cleanups.
  • Invasive species were removed and native plants installed along a hiking trail.

Please see our Green Grants webpage for descriptions of the categories, read the general Grant Application Guidelines, and click here to start a 2024 Green Grant Application.

We are grateful to the sponsors of our 2024 Green Grants Program:  Altria, WestRock, and Village Bank!

Altria Logo        WestRock Logo             Logo for Village Bank

Green Grants Logo

Five Fall Green Grants Awarded

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Green Grants LogoAs we continue to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Keep Virginia Beautiful, we’re happy to announce five Fall Green Grants were awarded to our local affiliates and allied partners!  These organizations work hard year-round to keep their communities clean and green.  Here are the awards for this special Fall Green Grants Program:

Upper Tennessee River Roundtable, $1,000 for Recycling
UTRR plans to conduct its second Fix-it-Fair for the citizens of Russell County. The first fair, held in the fall of 2022, was a rousing success. The event will have six “fixers” available:  mending/sewing, furniture repair, small appliance repair, evaluation of electronics, and jewelry repair. The fixers will offer to repair the items free of charge to the citizens.

The purpose of the Fair is to encourage people to repair items they already have, instead of throwing them away and buying a new product.  That’s a great way to recycle and reuse!

Keep Suffolk Beautiful, $500 for Litter Prevention
KSB launched a successful litter kit lending program with Suffolk Public Libraries several years ago.  It allows residents with library cards to “check out” litter kits (for 4 people) from each of their public library locations.  The Library Lending Litter Kit program is widely used, and is in need of repair or replacement of supplies, as well as a fresh logo and marketing to reach additional library patrons.

Having supplies for a litter cleanup is a great way for families or neighbors to safely remove litter from the landscape.  If you’re a resident of Suffolk, we encourage you to go to your local library and “Check it out!”

Keep James City County Beautiful, $1,000 for Community Beautification
KJCCB currently works with Master Gardeners on two gardens on County property:  the Pollinator Garden at Veterans Park, and the Water-Wise Demonstration Garden at the Human Services Building. KJCCB will use grant funds to purchase plant markers for both gardens and an educational sign about the Water Wise garden, to replace an outdated sign with no information.

Helping the public to identify and learn more about native plants is a great way to increase the number of backyards that include native plants for enjoyment by pollinators and neighbors!

askHRgreen, $1,000 for Litter Prevention
askHRgreen.org is a public awareness program of the 17 cities and counties of Hampton Roads that encourages environmental stewardship among all residents in southeastern Virginia.  They host hundreds of small local cleanups throughout the year.  A lack of litter grabbers and other cleanup supplies has been a barrier in the past to recruiting volunteers. Funds from this grant will be used to purchase 150 litter grabbers and 40 five-gallon buckets to create 40 additional litter kits for public use.

In a coastal region like Hampton Roads, litter on the ground almost always travels into a waterway becoming marine debris and harming natural systems.  The litter kits will enable volunteers to clean up land areas and water ways!

Clean Valley Council, $1,000, for Recycling
CVC will host their first “Reuse it and Repair it Fair,” where residents with lightly damaged or broken items will connect with local skilled volunteers to fix them. Items such as electronics, bicycles, clothing, shoes, small appliances, musical instruments, athletic equipment, and jewelry will be accepted.  Grant funds will be used to purchase basic tools and supplies, and will include activities for children, enabling them to learn how to accomplish simple repairs.

Entrance to the Fair will be free. Local nonprofit partners will be on site as well, offering their services to the community.

Congratulations to our Fall Green Grant Awardees!  This brings our total to 35 awards for Green Grants projects and programs during 2023 – which means we’re halfway to our goal of supporting 70 community projects to celebrate our 70th Anniversary.

We’ll be announcing more information soon about the remaining 35 Green Gifts that we’re giving away this fall!

Green Grants Logo

Congratulations to all of the 2023 Green Grant Awardees!

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Green Grants LogoWe continue to be impressed by the plans and ideas that organizations want to put into action with a Green Grant award.  The judging panel has such a challenging task to evaluate and score all the grant applications.  We sincerely appreciate the work they do, both in their professional fields, and as a volunteer for our organization.  Thank you Green Grant judges!

Thank you to everyone who submitted an application. We wish we could fund them all!  We’re encouraged by the work of volunteers at civic groups, nonprofits, faith-based communities, and others that are striving to improve the natural and scenic environment of the Commonwealth.

And of course the program wouldn’t be possible without the funding and support of our sponsors:  Altria, WestRock, and Village Bank!  We are very grateful for their generous and continued support!

Altria Logo         WestRock Logo      Logo for Village Bank

Below we’ve listed the organizations that were awarded a 2023 Green Grant, along with the category of their project or program, the award amount, and the region of the state where their work will be done.  You can click on the organization’s name to link to our website’s blog announcement.  We hope you’ll visit the announcements of this year’s awards, you’re sure to be inspired!

6/1/2023 Social Music LLC Cigarette Litter Prevention $1,000 Hampton Roads
6/2/2023 Art Guild of Greene Recycling $1,000 Central Virginia
6/3/2023 Pulaski County Litter $1,000 Southwest Virginia
6/4/2023 Verdant Richmond for Maymont Community Garden Community Beautification $1,000 Central Virginia
6/5/2023 Work of Life at Handley High School Recycling $1,000 Shenandoah Mtns/Valley
6/6/2023 Eastern Shore of Virginia Waste Watchers Litter $500 Eastern Shore
6/7/2023 Hanover Master Gardeners Association Community Beautification $750 Central Virginia
6/8/2023 Wakefield Country Day School’s Leo Club Litter $500 Central Virginia
6/9/2023 Clean Essex Committee Cigarette Litter Prevention $500 Central Virginia
6/10/2023 Fairview Farm and Homestead Foundation Community Beautification $500 Southwest Virginia
6/11/2023 Church of the Holy Family Recycling $750 Hampton Roads
6/12/2023 Bay School Community Arts Center Community Beautification $1,000 Central Virginia
6/13/2023 Town of St. Paul Cigarette Litter Prevention $500 Southwest Virginia
6/14/2023 Lake Anna Business Partnership Litter $1,000 Central Virginia
6/15/2023 Department of Military Affairs / Fort Barfoot Recycling $1,000 Central Virginia
6/16/2023 The Greater Scotts Addition Association Litter $1,000 Central Virginia
6/17/2023 City of Salem Community Beautification $1,000 Shenandoah Mtns/Valley
6/18/2023 Lynnhaven River NOW Litter $1,000 Hampton Roads
6/19/2023 The City of Newport News Cigarette Litter Prevention $1,000 Hampton Roads
6/20/2023 Carroll County Recycling $500 Southwest Virginia
6/21/2023 Friends of the Middle River Litter $500 Shenandoah Mtns/Valley
6/22/2023 Piedmont Arts Community Beautification $1,000 Southwest Virginia
6/23/2023 City of Manassas Park Cigarette Litter Prevention $500 Northern Virginia
6/24/2023 Kiptopeke State Park Litter $1,000 Eastern Shore
6/25/2023 Keep Middlesex Beautiful Recycling $1,000 Hampton Roads
6/26/2023 The Mariners’ Museum and Park Community Beautification $1,000 Hampton Roads
6/27/2023 Friends of Leesylvania State Park Litter $1,000 Northern Virginia
6/28/2023 Page County Solid Waste & Recycling Cigarette Litter Prevention $1,000 Shenandoah Mtns/Valley
6/29/2023 RVA Rapid Transit Litter $750 Central Virginia
6/30/2023 Town of Independence Community Beautification $750 Southwest Virginia
Colored drawing of a vintage tractor in a paved garden area, with a L-O-V-E sign behind it

The Town of Independence Awarded $750 Green Grant

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Colored drawing of a vintage tractor in a paved garden area, with a L-O-V-E sign behind itThe Town of Independence is awarded a $750 Green Grant in the Community Beautification Category as part of our 13th 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, Cigarette Litter Prevention, or Community Beautification.

Town Council was approached by community volunteers with an idea to enhance the vacant lot opposite the Town Park/Farmers Market pavilion to transform it into the Independence Community Tractor Garden.   A vintage John Deer tractor was donated and brought to the site in an effort to tie into the farming community and add beauty through the installation of mostly native and pollinating plants and flowers.  With benches on either side the tractor, visitors can enter the garden and enjoy its simple cottage appeal. It is designed to be attractive in all four seasons.Scenic view of the Town of Independence, Virginia

With funds provided by the Green Grant, they will transform a once vacant and weedy corner lot in the center of town into a beautiful community garden for locals, their visitors, and tourists to enjoy.  They will install a paver walkway, plantings along the walkway, and low-voltage landscape light for evening enjoyment.

Once completed, the garden will include a timber frame built “Virginia is for Lovers” L-O-V-E sign behind the tractor.  The final result will instill a sense of pride for the community, and a continued source of beauty as the garden matures into a restful, green, public space.

Bay School Community Arts, brick building with awning.

Bay School Community Arts Center Awarded $1,000 Green Grant

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Bay School Community Arts, brick building with awning.Bay School Community Arts Center is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Beautification Category as part of our 13th 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, Cigarette Litter Prevention, or Community Beautification.

The Bay School Community Arts Center was founded in 1997 to provide art classes to residents and community groups.  The current building, purchased in 2001, now includes a gallery for local artists.  They offer over 100 art classes in a variety of media annually, free summer art camps and after school programs for children, 12 community outreach programs, artisan markets, and ten special gallery exhibitions each year.

Photograph of narrow brick alleyFunds provided by this grant will go towards their Art in the Alley program. This project was put together by a group of private citizens who saw a need and an opportunity. They came to the Bay School for coordination of the art aspect and to be the supporting institution for the project.  They plan to purchase and install a rail kit hanging system and hardware that can be reconfigured to accommodate different sized artwork.  They will work with local artists to create works specifically for this space.

There will be a Grand Opening of Art in the Alley when the rail system is installed and art work is completed.  Many people will walk through the alley to enjoy the artwork on weekdays, Saturdays, and special market days.

Thank you Bay School Community Arts Center for creating a Community Beautification project that many will enjoy!

Historic Fairview Cabin

Fairview Farms Awarded $500 Community Beautification Green Grant

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Historic Fairview CabinFairview Farm and Homestead Foundation, in Southwest Virginia, is awarded a $500 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category to make improvements to the community garden they provide, as part of our 13th 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, Cigarette Litter Prevention, or Community Beautification.

Fairview Farms is a nonprofit organization created to protect the Historic Fairview Cabin and promote study of the agricultural heritage of the region.  They use their venue to demonstrate farming practices from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. They partner with other organizations to host an annual farm show, and with local FFA chapters for agricultural demonstrations.  One of Fairview’s chief goals is to get local people involved with agriculture while preserving and learning about the agricultural heritage of the region.Fairview Farm and Homestead Foundation

During the growing season each year, Fairview offers 20×20’ garden plots for people to rent for a nominal fee to grow vegetables, flowers, and to connect with nature. With the layout of the plots in one of the main fields at Fairview, it is essential to have numbered markers.  Fairview will use funds from the Green Grants award to purchase environmentally friendly, reusable, metal numbered plot markers and metal stakes. The markers will help individuals locate their garden plot, and give the community gardens a uniform appearance.

Since 2011, the Green Grants Program has provided $282,000 for 385 programs and projects throughout the state. Funding is made possible through generous support from Altria, as well as additional sponsorships from WestRock and Village Bank.

 

Raised beds in demonstration garden

Hanover Master Gardeners Awarded Green Grant

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The Hanover Master Gardener Association is awarded a $750 Green Grant in the Community Beautification Category as part of our 13th Annual Green Grants Program.

Raised garden beds in demonstration garden 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, Cigarette Litter Prevention, or Community Beautification.

Hanover Master Gardener Association is a corps of volunteer educators trained to teach best practices in home gardening and sustainable landscape management in the community. Their newly constructed Horticultural Learning Center, located on Rt. 54 in Ashland, will be a space for public education, demonstrating research-based gardening practices that can be incorporated into the home setting.  It includes raised beds created with different materials.  They contain perennials, vegetables, and native plants.

Funds provided by this grant award will be used to purchase and install a drip irrigation system for watering at the Horticultural Learning Center.  Rainwater will be harvested from the gutters of the adjoining Taylor Complex building. This will demonstrate water-wise gardening, with ideas and information that homeowners can use in their own backyards.

Future plans include an open-air classroom that will offer seating and shelter where people will attend lectures, workshops and demonstrations with a view of the surrounding gardens. Garden produce will be donated to a local food pantry. The Horticultural Learning Center will be created and cared for by Hanover Master Gardeners.

Since 2011, the Green Grants Program has provided $282,000 for 385 programs and projects throughout the state.  Funding is made possible through generous support from  Altria, as well as additional sponsorships from WestRock and Village Bank.

 

Community Garden and Skate Board Ramp

Verdant Richmond Awarded $1,000 Green Grant

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Community Garden and Skate Board RampCongratulations to Verdant Richmond for their Community Beautification grant award of $1,000 as part of our 13th annual Green Grants Program!

Verdant Richmond was founded in 2017 to address the condition of Richmond’s parks and public green spaces.  They applied for a Green Grant in order to improve a small but extremely active Richmond City Park.  The site hosts a Skatepark, Community Garden, and a Children’s Play Space.  The goal is to improve the public green space that supports skate park users, playing children, the ecology and biodiversity of the site, to deepen interdependence between neighbors.

As the skatepark has grown over the past decade, the overall look of the park is somewhat disjointed, with some of the skate ramps covered in vibrant murals, while others are worn, peeling, or defaced. The skaters, neighbors and gardeners believe the space would benefit greatly from cosmetic improvements and a cohesive look.

Each year on June 21st, skateboarders from around the world celebrate Go Skateboarding Day. This year, Gardeners and Skaters are coming together at Maymond Community Garden to refresh and add to the murals that cover the park in the days leading up to Go Skateboarding Day. A group of local artists will paint fresh works inspired by the vibrant colors of the nearby garden flora to create a space that is visually pleasing to the eye and welcoming to community members of all ages.  It is anticipated that 300-400 people will attend Go Skateboarding Day.

In preparation for the event, Verdant Richmond will coordinate their largest ever skate and garden volunteer cleanup. There is a lot of litter and construction debris at the site.  They expect to have over 50 volunteers participate in the re-painting and cleanup work days.  They will repaint approximately 3,600 square feet of walls and ramps at the Skate Park/Garden site, with approximately 15 murals by 15 local artists.

What a beautiful way to cleanup a public green space, we’ll have to check it out!

 

Three Green Grant Award Plaques on display

Green Grant Applications are Going… Going…

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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, 2023!

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?  Apply for a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program grant to get the supplies, tools, and information you need to combat the cigarette butt litter problem!
  • Did you take part in a cleanup during Earth Month, and need litter grabbers, vests, or other supplies for your group to conduct future cleanups?  Apply for a Litter Prevention grant!
  • Does your school need a water refill station to avoid single-use plastic bottles?  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!
  • 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 are some of last year’s awards, showing off the Keep Virginia Beautiful award plaques:

Student with recycling box in classroom“Everyone at North Branch School in Afton, from age 3 to adult, focused on recycling items they would normally put in the trash. We filled three zero waste boxes that hold a large variety of items, in addition to one box for pencils and markers.”Frederick County Green Grant Plaque Award

“Frederick County’s Clean Sweep/regional jail trustee crew enthusiastically canvassed the library’s trail around Bowman Library each month. During July 10,329 butts were collected; followed by 3,305 butts in August and 4,310 in September. The installation of cigarette butt receptacles and signage will hopefully continue to reduce the amount of cigarette butt litter.”

Water fountain and refill station“The Northern Virginia 4-H Educational & Conference Center in Front Royal was able to defer the use of 5,942 plastic disposable water bottles by installing the reusable water bottle refilling station.  Reducing the use of disposable water bottles decreases our carbon footprint and plastic burden on landfills and also saved our participants money by not having to purchase bottle waters.”  

Get inspired by reading more about other grant projects and programs using THIS LINK to see a list of the 2022 Green Grant Awards.

REMEMBER TO SUBMIT YOUR GRANT APPLICATION BY APRIL 30, 2023!

 

Jar with pennies and a plant growing

Time to Apply for a Green Grant

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Jar with pennies and a plant growingOur spring Green Grants Program is ready for your application!

The Green Grants program empowers groups all across Virginia to make an environmental impact in their own communities.  This is one of the ways we can engage the people who live in Virginia to improve our natural and scenic environment. We believe in a shared responsibility to end littering, improve recycling and beautify communities, and we know with your determination and our support, much can be accomplished!

Grant applications will be accepted from March 1 through April 30, 2023.

The applications are evaluated and scored by a panel of experts in their fields.  In June, one Green Grant award is announced one each day. The grants are awarded to schools, parks, counties and towns, environmental groups, associations, nonprofits, service organizations, and other groups.  Individuals are not eligible.

Here are the general Grant Application Guidelines. You should apply for the category that matches the project or program you plan to put in place:  Litter Prevention, Cigarette Litter Prevention, Community Beautification, or  Recycling.  Please see the Green Grant Program webpage for more information on how to submit an application.

Here are some past awards to inspire you!

Students with litter grabbers The “Litter Critter Project” at DuPont Elementary School has positively impacted Dupont and our school community by using litter grabbers and other cleanup equipment we purchased through a Green Grant. Students have been learning about various ways to help take care of the environment and are inspiring others by encouraging them to not litter!

water bottle filling station

The Children’s Museum of Richmond now offers refillable water stations to visitors! Through the Green Grant Award, upgraded the water fountain to include a state-of-the-art refillable water bottle stations in effort to help reduce the amount of single use plastic that ends up in landfills. By encouraging visitors to reduce their use of plastic and reuse their bottles for water consumption, the Children’s Museum of Richmond hopes to help reduce their carbon footprint and raise awareness about the importance of reducing use of plastic materials.

Recycling, compost, and trash binDorey Park Farmers Market partnered with Troop 501 Boy Scouts to design and build a three-compartment recycle, compost, and trash bin for use at the Saturday morning farmers market.  The recycle and compost bin will be used for many market seasons. It will serve to educate the community about good environmental practices.

Lady with cigarette butt receptacle near park benchDickenson County Chamber of Commerce placed 18 cigarette receptacles throughout the county, and distributed pocket ashtrays to smokers during this grant period.  The town employees and county workers at the park had been picking up cigarette butts that were littered, but as time goes on there are more and more in the receptacles instead of on the ground.

To see all of the 2022 Green Grant Awards, follow THIS LINK!

To learn more about this year’s application process, please visit the Green Grants Program webpage.

For questions about the Green Grants Program or the application, please contact Beckey Watson [email protected].

Since 2011, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $282,000 for 385 programs and projects throughout the state.  We are grateful to the 2022 sponsors of our Green Grants program:

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