Facebook Join My List Logo
Executive Director Report
A huge SHOUT OUT to Dr. Brett Rushing and his staff at the MSU Coastal Plains Extension Service Center for our fourth amazing Wildflower Field Day. This summer Neeley and I have seen many of the beautiful wildflowers and we are working with other communities in planning to plant for next year’s blooms. Exciting news – Wildflower Trails of Mississippi is now a member with Genuine MS with Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. We are looking forward to this journey with GENUINE MS and please everyone check out their website. www.GenuineMS.com  

At this time I want to thank all the Teachers/Educators in our state that Neeley and I have met this summer that have attended our Waste In Place workshops. Students are fortunate to have the opportunity to be taught in the classrooms by these outstanding men and women.

Congratulations to GT McCollough/Keep Corinth-Alcorn County Beautiful and
Nora Berch/Keep Copiah County Beautiful for being the first two KMB Affiliates to complete all their reporting and receiving a paid registration to the upcoming KAB National Conference. Thanks to all of our Affiliates for their continued hard work and dedication.
Enjoy the summer days ahead and help us KEEP MISSISSIPPI CLEAN & GREEN !

Sarah
Wildflower Trails of Mississippi
4th Annual Field Day
Thank you to everyone who participated in our 4th annual Wildflower Trails of Mississippi Field Day. Thanks to our partners Mississippi State University Extension Service and USDA, for your continued support.

The morning session began with Dr. Brett Rushing speaking on the Wildflower Trails of Mississippi program and about how communities can join and receive free wildflower seed. We also had MSU Extension Service's Shaun Broderick speak on native plants and Jeff Harris speak on Pollinators. The final presentation was by Mississippi Department of Agriculture's Lane Milton speaking on Genuine Mississippi.

We finished the field day by taking a wagon field tour of Dr. Rushing's wildflower test plots throughout the years as well as Shaun Broderick's native Mississippi collected seed plots.
Tales from the Wildflower Trail
The Wildflower Trails of Mississippi is so happy to announce our newest partnership, Mississippi Department of Agriculture's Genuine Mississippi. Genuine Mississippi makes it easy for you to find products created or produced by Mississippi farmers and entrepreneurs- which shows our state pride and keeps our economy strong.

You can find our Genuine Mississippi profile at
Affiliate Reporting Due August 1
Friendly reminder for all affiliates to begin working on your
Keep America Beautiful annual reports!

President's Circle:
Affiliates who complete the Good Standing requirements by August 1. Recipients receive a certificate for their achievement and will be honored at the annual KAB National Conference. President's Circle will be considered first for grants.

Good Standing:
Affiliates must complete the requirements by September 15 of the reporting year.

  1. Has an active board
  2. Has an Executive Director
  3. Six hours of training annually
  4. Governance Report
  5. Update Affiliate Profile Annually
  6. Community appearance Index
  7. Event Reporting and Cost/Benefit Analysis - Implement a minimum of one activity in each Impact Area - End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify Communities
  8. Pay Annual Fee (Based on population)
Keep MS/AL Beautiful 2019 Conference
We are trilled to be hosting this year's Keep Mississippi Beautiful/Keep Alabama Beautiful conference this year in Hattiesburg, MS. The conference will take place at the new Holiday Inn from Thursday, October 10 - Friday, October 11 and is open for all Keep MS/AL Beautiful affiliates and their board members. The hotel is now taking reservations at the below link for $103/night. The conference registration site is also live and everyone must RSVP at the below link. We look forward to seeing you there!





Keep America Beautiful 2020 Conference
This year's Keep America Beautiful National Conference will take place in Memphis, TN, February 12-14, 2020. The historic Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis, legendary for its elegance and gracious Southern hospitality, will host KAB affiliates, partners, and guests for a three-day conference.

Hotel Reservations can be made online at HERE.
Find Recycling Options Near You
The Waste Division’s Recycling and Waste Reduction Program staff at Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has updated and enhanced the  State Recycling Directory  on the MDEQ website. This provides information to Mississippi residents seeking recycling opportunities and services in their area.

The directory identifies those facilities and programs in the state that provide recycling services to the public for paper, plastics, metals and glass. The directory includes local government recycling programs and facilities as well as programs offered by universities, colleges, state agencies and private businesses that offer collection of recyclables from the public.

Residents interested in learning how they can recycle these materials in their area may access the State Recycling Directory  HERE .
KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL GRANTS AVAILABLE

Keep America Beautiful's Community Restoration and Resiliency Fund 
Rolling Deadline 
Keep America Beautiful's Community Restoration and Resiliency Fund benefits Keep America Beautiful Affiliates that serve communities directly affected by natural and environmental disasters. The fund provides immediate and long-term support for initial and ongoing cleanup efforts and helps rebuild vital public spaces: parks, greenways, community gateways, Main Street/downtown areas, open spaces and more. 

WALMART COMMUNITY GRANTS
From $250-$5,000

Through the Community Grant Program, our associates are proud to support the needs of their communities by providing grants to local organizations. 

  • The 2019 grant cycle deadline is Dec. 31, 2019.
  • Application may be submitted at any time during this funding cycle. Please note that applications will only remain pending in the system for 90 days.
Future Dates:

Aug. 1 Keep America Beautiful President's Circle Deadline
Sept. 15 Keep America Beautiful Good Standing Deadline
Sept. 25 Keep MS/AL Beautiful Conference registration/reservations deadline
Oct. 10-11 Keep MS/AL Beautiful Conference, Hattiesburg, MS
Oct. 29-30 Mississippi Recycling Coalition Conference, Oxford, MS
Jan. 20 Keep America Beautiful Conference registration/reservations deadline
Feb. 12-14 Keep America Beautiful Conference, Memphis, TN
Feb. 26, 2020 KMB's Legislative Day, Jackson, MS

To add an event to our "Future Dates" email neeley@keepmsbeautiful.com