Each year, the Governor’s Community Achievement Awards (GCAA) celebrate ten Texas communities for their outstanding efforts to keep their communities beautiful. From the Texas coast to the Panhandle, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has awarded cities with this honor since 1986. Winners are selected for their ability to engage citizens, local businesses, schools, and other organizations in environmental improvement initiatives. Categorized by population, these ten cities share an award of $2 million in landscaping projects. Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) and TxDOT have worked together to administer the GCAA for more than 30 years. The GCAA 2020 application is officially open. Review the application and apply at ktb.org/gcaa.

Applications are due on Thursday, March 4 at 5 p.m. CST. In the months leading up to the deadline, we will be sharing last year’s ten winners, who were recognized at the KTB Virtual Conference in 2020. 

The Colony is 25 miles north of Dallas and is known as “The City by the Lake,” since it is adjacent to Lake Lewisville. The City, along with Keep The Colony Beautiful and many local organizations, partner to promote programs on litter prevention, beautification, habitat restoration, community improvement and waste reduction.

Such programs include community-wide cleanups held in April and September. In 2019, these events involved 850 households that helped pick up 25 tons of bulky debris, 100 tires, 29,000 pounds of paper for shredding, and more. Another unique program is “The Colony Cares” tool lending program, where tools and equipment are offered to residents for their community improvement efforts.

The Colony residents have a sense of pride and responsibility in community improvement efforts that is evident in the support they provide to community improvement programs throughout the city.