May 25, 2006
CONTACT: Anne Cunic or Josh Spradling
1-800-CLEAN-TX

Nine Texas Communities Receive
Community Excellence Awards
Governor’s Community Achievement Awards
Presented by Keep Texas Beautiful

(Austin, Texas) – Keep Texas Beautiful today announced nine Texas communities to receive the 2006 Governor’s Community Achievement Awards (GCAA) for outstanding community improvement. Alvin, Athens, Austin, Coppell, Grand Prairie, Richwood, Temple, Valley View, and Wimberley were each designated to receive one of the most prestigious annual environmental awards in Texas. The winners were selected by Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) and will receive a share of one million dollars from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to be used in landscaping state rights-of-way in their community.

The winning communities, one from each of nine population categories, were chosen for their achievements in community leadership and coordination, education, public awareness, litter prevention and cleanup, illegal dumping enforcement, beautification and property improvement, and solid waste management.

“Every Texan should applaud the efforts these communities have made to improve the appearance of their neighborhoods, schools, parks, and other public spaces,” Lynn Lantrip, Keep Texas Beautiful President, said. “These nine winners exemplify what can be achieved when citizens, businesses, local government, and youth work together to make positive impacts on their communities.”

Any city or county in Texas, regardless of size, is eligible to apply for the GCAA award. The smallest population category (under 1,000) receives $60,000 in projects; the largest population (over a quarter of a million) receives $265,000 worth of landscaping .

The GCAA program has recognized outstanding communities for 37 consecutive years, with the Texas Department of Transportation providing prize funds since 1985. Winning communities will formally receive their award during the 39 th Annual Keep Texas Beautiful Conference on June 29, 2006 in Plano.

Keep Texas Beautiful , a leading grassroots community improvement and environmental organization and affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, strives to empower Texans through education to take responsibility for enhancing their community environment. KTB works with government, businesses, civic groups, and volunteers to ensure that every Texan has the opportunity to take individual responsibility for making Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation. For more information on the GCAA and other KTB programs and events, call 1-800-CLEAN-TX or visit www.ktb.org.

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Full Winners List

Fact Sheet