Ten Texas communities won awards for their work in “Keeping Texas Beautiful.”

The 2022 Governor’s Community Achievement Awards (GCAA) were held on last Wednesday at the Keep Texas Beautiful GCAA Dinner in Austin. Among the top local communities recognized at the event were Irving, Allen, Rowlett, and Grapevine.

Texas First Lady Cecelia Abbott said during her keynote address that “preserving the undeniable beauty of Texas would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of communities who strive to improve and safeguard spaces across our state,” KXAN News reported.

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Keep Texas Beautiful, the Texas Chapter of the non-profit group Keep America Beautiful, has been awarding the prestigious GCAA to Texas communities for their efforts to keep their communities beautiful since 1985, in collaboration with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

The GCAA recognizes achievement in seven areas:

  • Community Leadership and Coordination
  • Public Awareness and Outreach
  • Environmental Education
  • Beautification and Community Improvement
  • Litter Prevention and Cleanup
  • Solid Waste Management
  • Litter Law and Illegal Dumping Enforcement

GCAA winners are selected for their ability to engage citizens, local businesses, schools, and other organizations in environmental improvement initiatives, and the prize amount is determined by population size. The funds are used for local landscaping projects along Texas highways.

“Today, we celebrate these communities’ diligent efforts to create and maintain beautiful, clean environments for future generations of Texans to enjoy and make memories that last a lifetime,” said  Abbott.

2022 GCAA Winners:

  • Category 1, population up to 3,000: Salado
  • Category 2, population of 3,001 to 5,500: Richwood
  • Category 3, population of 5,501 to 9,000: Lucas
  • Category 4, population of 9,001 to 15,000: Woodway
  • Category 5, population of 15,001 to 25,000: Katy
  • Category 6, population of 25,001 to 40,000: Canyon Lake
  • Category 7, population of 40,001 to 65,000: Grapevine
  • Category 8, population of 65,001 to 90,000: Rowlett
  • Category 9, population of 90,001 to 180,000: Allen
  • Category 10, population of 180,001 and above: Irving

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