Governor’s Community Achievement Awards
The GCAA Application is officially open!
For more than thirty years, Keep Texas Beautiful, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), has awarded the prestigious Governor's Community Achievement Awards to Texas communities for their outstanding overall efforts to keep their communities beautiful.
This year, ten winning communities will share $2 million in landscaping awards from the Texas Department of Transportation, with the amount based on population size. The funds are used for landscaping projects along local rights-of-way. A community's environmental program is judged on achievements 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
Applications are due on Thursday, February 20 at 5 p.m. CST. If you have any questions regarding this years application, please reach out to Sara Nichols at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
2020 GCAA Application
In order to better align with the goals of our partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation, KTB has made a few updates to the 2020 Governor’s Community Achievement Award (GCAA) application. These changes include:
- The addition of new questions to address new accomplishments and adaptations to growing and changing populations
- Slight changes to former questions for consistency and clarity
- Increased word counts for select questions based on feedback from previous applicants
- Beginning with first place GCAA winners in 2020, winners will not be eligible to place in GCAA again for the next four years (this was previously three years). For example, first place GCAA winners in 2020 will not be able to achieve first, second or third place until 2025. However, all first place winners from 2016-2019 are eligible to place three years after their win. See chart below for reference.
| Winning Year | Year Eligible |
| 2016 | 2020 |
| 2017 | 2021 |
| 2018 | 2022 |
| 2019 | 2023 |
| 2020 | 2025 |
| 2021 | 2026 |
| 2022 | 2027 |
We suggest that your community reviews the application questions prior to the application opening on January 2, 2020. You can preview the application questions using this link. The GCAA recognizes an entire community’s achievements and is open to all Texas communities, including those without KTB affiliates.
As we have in the past, KTB will continue to provide support to communities applying for GCAA through resources such as: the KTB blog, GCAA-specific webinars, and a robust application toolkit.
2020 GCAA Toolkit
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Below are a variety of resources to help you prepare for your GCAA Application:
- 2020 GCAA Application Questions
- 2020 GCAA Application Tips
- GCAA Abbreviations
- 2018 Population Data
- Community Windshield Survey - 2019
- Affiliate Only Forum with Staff and Previous Winners
Pre-Recorded Webinar: Preparing to Apply for GCAA, Part 1
The 2020 GCAA application opens online January 2nd. Are you ready to apply?
In this webinar, you will learn the history of GCAA and updates to the GCAA program that have been made this year, and then we'll run through the process of applying through our online system. If your community is considering applying, this will be a great opportunity to learn more about the program and will be an opportunity to get answers to any questions you may have.
Pre-Recorded Webinar: Preparing for GCAA, Part 2
The 2020 GCAA application closes on February 20. Are you ready to submit the application? In this webinar, KTB staff will walk you through how to use the application software. We’ll hear from past winners on their application techniques and the process of putting together a project after monies are awarded.
Even if this is your 1st or 15th time to apply, sit in to learn how to navigate the application website, get answers to your questions from previous winners, and find out what you have to look forward to after winning.
- 2020 GCAA Application Questions
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Are you interested in participating in KTB awards season? Please help us judge the amazing nominations that we get each year for GCAA, youth, individual and organizational awards! If you're interested in judging, please fill out this quick application.
The application will close on February 7, 2020.
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GCAA Online Awards Instructions
Step One
Review the GCAA Guidelines and Eligibility Requirements.Step Two
Visit our new Awards Software and create an account.Step Three
Once you’re ready to begin, select GCAA at the top to begin your application.Step Four
Answer all questions and upload all supplemental information. Don’t forget to save as you go! This will allow you to leave the page and return at a later time if needed.Step Five
Once you’ve completed your application, submit and pay. You’ll have a chance to save a copy of your application when you’re finished.Step Six
Pay the $25 fee online with a credit card or mail your check to:
Keep Texas Beautiful - GCAA
8850 Business Park Drive, Ste 200
Austin, Texas 78759Relax – you’re finished! Congratulations on completing the 2020 GCAA application!
For the full list of the 2019 winning communities, please click here.
Landscaping Awards by Population Size Categories
|
Category |
Population |
Landscaping Award Amount |
|
Category 1 |
Up to 3,000 |
$90,000 |
|
Category 2 |
3,001 - 5,500 |
$110,000 |
|
Category 3 |
5,501 - 9,000 |
$130,000 |
|
Category 4 |
9,001 - 15,000 |
$160,000 |
|
Category 5 |
15,001 - 25,000 |
$180,000 |
|
Category 6 |
25,001 - 40,000 |
$210,000 |
|
Category 7 |
40,001 - 65,000 |
$250,000 |
|
Category 8 |
65,001 - 90,000 |
$270,000 |
|
Category 9 |
90,001 - 180,000 |
$290,000 |
|
Category 10 |
Over 180,000 |
$310,000 |
