Pulaski County awarded Green Grant

Pulaski County is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in Litter Prevention as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 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.

“Keep Virginia Beautiful believes that local organizations are best equipped to address and prevent litter, advance recycling, and promote community beautification in their communities. Green grants give people the ability to implement environmental projects that result in positive change and community pride,” says Cristi Lawton, Keep Virginia Beautiful’s Executive Director.

The goal of Pulaski County is to involve their general population in their litter program called, “One Bag Challenge.” This is an ongoing challenge to all citizens, civic groups, Boards, Towns, county departments, and agencies to pick up One Bag of Trash from roadsides or wherever they find litter. They anticipate that hundreds of people will participate to remove bags of litter, tires, discarded furniture, appliances, and other items from the landscape.

The funds awarded for the Green Grant will be used to purchase supplies necessary for participants to safely clean up litter. Litter grabbers, gloves, vests, and bags will be given to individuals for the One Bag Challenge.

The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve the natural and scenic environment. 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.