Keep Wayne County Beautiful is Recipient of Awards of Excellence Grant

TDOT recently recognized 13 winners of the Keep Tennessee Beautiful Awards of Excellence Grant Competition, presenting a total of $54,000 in grants to environmental leaders across the state. Keep Wayne County Beautiful was honored with a Keep Tennessee Beautiful State Level Affiliate Award, receiving $5,000 in funding. The awards ceremony was held during the 2025 Biennial Conference in Murfreesboro.

Steve Allen, director of Local Programs and Community Investments Division, TDOT, represented TDOT Commissioner Will Reid in presenting the awards, along with Keep Tennessee Beautiful Executive Director Missy Marshall. Recipients included affiliates and non-affiliates from the three grand divisions of the state whose work helps improve the lives of all Tennesseans.

“This gathering of industry leaders, service providers and stakeholders is always invigorating and inspiring,” Marshall said. “I am grateful to TDOT for their generous support of our Awards of Excellence Grant program. The grant recipients are some of the most dedicated people I know, passionate about truly making a difference in their communities. I’m also thankful for the commitment of our KTnB team to educate our citizens about clean, green, healthy and safe living.”

Grants were presented in six main categories: Public Education, Public Participation, Leadership, TDOT County Litter Grant Programs, Keep America Beautiful TN Affiliate Award, Keep Tennessee Beautiful State Level Affiliate Award. and four distinguished leadership awards.

The full list of 2025 award-winners includes Keep Sevier Beautiful; Keep The Tennessee River Beautiful; Memphis City Beautiful; Collierville Rotary Club; Keep Chester County Beautiful; Greene County Partnership; Jennifer Wilder, Greene County Partnership; Keep Knoxville Beautiful; Keeping The Valley Beautiful; Keep Wayne County Beautiful; Lisa Bryant, Keep Sevier Beautiful; Sheriff Michael Hodges, Sevier County; Jessica Hernandez, Keep Tipton County Beautiful. The six categories designated for grants are Public Education, Public Participation, Leadership, TDOT County Litter Grant Programs, Keep America Beautiful TN Affiliate Award, and Keep Tennessee Beautiful State Level Affiliate Award.