The Upper Tennessee River Roundtable formed a Keep America Beautiful affiliate in 2007, called Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful.
The affiliate later departed to form a nonprofit, operating as a 501c3 for many years.
The formation of this affiliate resulted from a unique partnership among nine counties and two cities. These localities joined to serve on a Black Diamond RC&D task force for a year and then became the Roundtable’s Tourism and Trash Team. After working on many projects together, the group decided to form a KAB affiliate, which was certified April 21, 2007. The affiliate won state and national awards for its litter prevention work in 2007.
Eventually, the funding situation became too difficult to maintain the affiliate, so Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful gave up its affiliate with Keep America Beautiful and went back under the umbrella of Upper Tennessee River Roundtable.
Mission Statement:
To engage individuals in Southwest Virginia to take greater responsibility for improving their community environment.
Purpose:
KSVB follows a practical approach based on the Keep America Beautiful (KAB) system of behavioral change that unites citizens, businesses and government to find solutions that advance core issues of preventing litter, reducing waste and beautifying communities. This work is done as a region. Members will assist each other when possible with dumpsite cleanups, special projects, educational awareness, promoting litter enforcement, etc.
Membership and Attendance:
Each locality appoints a member to serve on the KSVB committee. Upon certification with KAB, KSVB consisted of nine counties and two cities: Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise Counties, and Bristol and Norton Cities. Each of these localities will appoint a member to serve on the KSVB Board of Directors. Additionally, two town seats are filled by Abingdon and Saltville.
America Recycles Day
Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful partners each November with Sustain Abingdon to offer a collection event for America Recycles Day. Many items are accepted, including paper for shredding, electronics waste, gently used shoes.
