KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL OFFERS GRANTS TO COMMUNITIES COMBATING LITTER

For the seventh consecutive year, KLB is offering grants to communities committed to reducing litter in their jurisdictions.

KLB will award up to $10,000 per entity to eligible applicants who are 501c3 nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, affiliates and pre-certified affiliates of Keep America Beautiful.  The electronic application deadline for interested organizations is January 27, 2010, and all grants will be awarded during the week of February 8, 2010. Recipients must complete all projects and work related to the grant by December 31, 2010.

Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for funding consideration:

1.  Demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting the mission of KLB.

2. Demonstrate the provision of a valuable service to the community

     in which it serves.

Extra points will be given to those who:

1.  Can demonstrate they have applied for or received funds from other

     sources and do not rely solely on funding from KLB;

2. Have attended more than one KLB annual state conference in the

     past;

3.  Are certified affiliates in "good standing" with Keep America

     Beautiful, or are pre-certified and working on full certification.

Only electronic applications will be accepted. Proposals must be emailed to Melanie-Peck_klb@cox.net no later than January 27, 2010. A grant review panel will make the final decision on all grants based on a numerical point rating system.

Click here for the official community grant application.

Click here for the official community grant guidelines.

Direct questions can be sent to KLB Affiliate Services Coordinator Melanie Peck at Melanie-Peck_klb@cox.net.  All applicants are also invited to participate in a technical assistance conference call on January 13, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. To register for the call, applicants must email Peck no later than Monday, January 11, 2010.

Applicants should note the grants have become highly competitive and funds are limited. All requirements and individual sections of the application should be given equal attention and considered carefully. KLB will only judge applications that specifically target its mission and will not award projects that have received previous funding.

KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL ANNOUNCES

POSTER DESIGN CONTEST WINNERS

Winning design to be featured as a poster in all

Louisiana Offices of Motor Vehicles.

Pictured from left to right:  KLB Executive Director Leigh Harris, First Place Winner Jenny Wang and Glasgow Middle School's Geeta Dave.

Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) is sponsoring its first poster design contest for students statewide. The contest called for entries from middle and high school students (grades 7-12).

The program, created by KLB, gave Louisiana students the chance to design a portrait of what Louisiana would look like if citizens refrained from littering, recycled more and took time to beautify the state's landscape.

The winners are:

• First Place:  Jenny Wang, Glasgow Middle School

             Baton Rouge, LA (Click here to view artwork)

• Second Place:  Cayla Zeek, St. Thomas More High School

              Lafayette, LA (Click here to view artwork)

• Third Place:  Jenny Zhang, Glasgow Middle School

              Baton Rouge, LA (Click here to view artwork)

• Most Creative:  Emma McKay, Ascension Episcopal School

              Lafayette, LA (Click here to view artwork)

Wang's design will be featured as a poster that will be displayed in all 84 Louisiana Offices of Motor Vehicles. She is also being awarded $500. The runners up will also receive awards for their designs.

KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL NEEDS YOUR HELP TO FIGHT LITTER

Keep Louisiana Beautiful, affiliated with Keep America Beautiful, is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization dedicated to litter reduction through education, enforcement and cleanups. Below are a few of the many ways you can get involved.

Report Litterbugs  

The Department of Environmental Quality maintains a toll-free number to report litter and illegal dumping. 

1-888-LIT-R-BUG  (1-888-548-7284)

Pitch In

Cleanups and beautification projects are taking place across the state with our affiliates and partners. Sign up here to volunteer and make a difference in your community.

Join the Movement

You are our most valuable asset. Join us in the fight against litter by becoming a member of Keep Louisiana Beautiful. Your contribution will be utilized in efforts to assist in enhancing KLB’s three-pronged approach to tackling the litter problem:

• Education
• Enforcement
• Clean-up

Check back soon for more membership info.