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Governor's Community Achievement Award

Governor’s Community Achievement Awards

Overview

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.

The GCAA program has recognized outstanding communities since 1969, with TxDOT providing landscaping award funding since 1985. 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 state rights-of-way.

The 2023 Awards process has closed. Join our mailing list to be notified when the 2024 Awards open.

2023 Winners

KTB, in partnership with TxDOT, is proud to announce the 2023 winners of the Governor’s Community Achievement Award. Congratulations to these cities who are working to make their communities cleaner, greener, more beautiful, and welcoming spaces.

Awards

Landscaping Awards

by Population Size *2019 census estimates

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

Evaluation

A community’s environmental program is judged on achievements in seven areas:

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

Toolkit

WEBINAR

Prep your application with help from past winners

Recorded Dec 14, 2021

Watch Now

WEBINAR

Tackling the Online Application

Recorded January 18, 2023 

Watch the recording

RESEARCH

Review the 2023 Application Questions
View 2023 Questions

2019 CENSUS DATA

The 2023 populations categories are based on 2019 census estimates for each community.

Access the Census

ACCESS DATA

APPLICATION TIPS

Review this guide to help you prepare for the online application.

Includes definitions and a list of abbreviations

View the Guide
Common Definitions

PROJECT GUIDELINES

Guidelines for Winning Communities’ Projects
View Guidelines

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE AND SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE

Judges will recognize all applicants scoring 90 points or above with the Award of Excellence. This prestigious award distinguishes these communities throughout Texas for their outstanding achievements in protecting and enhancing their local environment, exemplifying their efforts as the standard of environmental excellence for communities nationwide.

The Sustained Excellence Award recognizes the communities that have scored 90 or above in the GCAA competition for three consecutive years. Recipients of this esteemed award are recognized for their ongoing commitment to making Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation.

Past Winners

Congratulations to these Outstanding Communities
2022 Winners

By Population Category

  1. SALADO
  2. RICHWOOD
  3. LUCAS
  4. WOODWAY
  5. KATY
  6. CANYON LAKE
  7. GRAPEVINE
  8. ROWLETT
  9. ALLEN
  10. IRVING
2021 Winners

By Population Category

  1. MUENSTER
  2. SAN SABA
  3. CUERO
  4. ATHENS
  5. GATESVILLE
  6. DUNCANVILLE
  7. FRIENDSWOOD
  8. MANSFIELD
  9. DENTON
  10. McKINNEY
2020 Winners

By Population Category

  1. SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
  2. WESTON LAKES
  3. LAGO VISTA
  4. LEVELLAND
  5. WHITE SETTLEMENT
  6. ALVIN
  7. THE COLONY
  8. HARLINGEN
  9. TYLER
  10. GRAND PRARIE
The Governor’s Community Achievement Awards are brought to you in partnership with