Troy officially joins network of green thinkers

The City of Troy is hoping to concentrate on green spaces and a cleaner community now that the city is officially part of the Keep America Beautiful nationwide network.

Keep Troy Beautiful joins more than 1,200 KAB affiliates and partnering organizations, including statewide affiliates and international affiliates.

“…Keep Troy Beautiful has pledged to act as a catalyst for positive community change, with the goal of improving the quality of life for every resident,” said KAB Chief Operating Officer Becky Lyons.

Keep Troy Beautiful’s mission is to achieve a cleaner and more beautiful community through education, communication and participation. Focus areas include recycling, litter prevention, beautification and community greening.

“Troy is a wonderful place to live. One of our goals as a KAB affiliate is to make it an extraordinary community that shines out above the rest,” said Melissa Sanders, president of Keep Troy Beautiful. “We, as a community, need to have pride in where we live, work and play.

“By creating a cleaner, more sustainable city, we help show others traveling through that we are a strong, vibrant city with residents who care for our community.”

The KAB network of affiliates mobilizes more than four million volunteers each year to make a positive impact on environmental concerns. As a result of those actions, litter is being reduced, solid waste is being managed responsibly, vacant lots are seeing improvements and trees and flowers are replacing trash heaps and mounds of scrap tires across the nation.

“Clean, livable communities are the foundation for strong local economies,” said Lyons.

Keep Troy Beautiful is an initiative of Mayor Jason A. Reeves and will work as a nonprofit organization in hopes of serving as a catalyst for many projects that might better the City of Troy. KTB plans to participate in the Great American Cleanup,

Littering is Wrong Too and America Recycles Day, among other national programs.

KTB will also focus on improving Troy’s downtown area.

“Trees, sitting areas, a clean environment and community greening efforts make downtown more attractive and can be used to give our downtown square a more recognizable sense of place,” Sanders said.

KTB hopes that the group’s efforts improve the city’s economy, create jobs and help the Troy grow by attracting more people to a community that cares about cleanliness and sustainability.

“Keep Troy Beautiful will positively impact our community for many years to come,” Sanders said. “We believe in our mission and that we will be able to accomplish great things for the City of Troy.”

For more information, or to get involved with Keep Troy Beautiful, call (334) 670-6058, or email ktb@troyal.info.