SR653: SR653 Keep Georgia Beautiful Day; recognize

26 LC 129 0707 Senate Resolution 653 By: Senators Anderson of the 24th, Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th, Echols of the 49th, Sims of the 12th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing Keep Georgia Beautiful Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation (KGBF) was creat ed in 1978 by2 executive order of Governor George Busbee; and3 WHEREAS, there are now more than 70 local Keep America Beautiful Affiliates in Georgia,4 representing one of the largest networks of local affiliates in the nation; and5 WHEREAS, the affiliate network and statewide KGBF programs impa ct 80 percent of6 Georgia's population through litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and community7 beautification programs, including the Great American Cleanup, America Recycles Day, the8 Bring One for the Chipper Christmas tree recycling campaign, an d BRACE (Blight9 Reduction and Code Enforcement) grants; and10 WHEREAS, these programs demonstrate measurable results such as reducing litter collected11 during the Great American Cleanup by 75 percent over the last 15 years, recycling more than12 6 million Christmas trees since the start of the Chipper progra m, and providing 8613 mini-grants to Georgia communities over the last two years for a total of $400,000, including14 $205,000 to communities with populations up to 10,000; and15 S. R. 653 - 1 - 26 LC 129 0707 WHEREAS, an average of over 100,000 volunteers participate in K eep Georgia Beautiful16 Foundation and affiliate programs each year, representing an annual value average of $87.3117 million to Georgia taxpayers; and18 WHEREAS, within the last 10 years, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation has returned19 an average of $119 in statewide annual benefits for every $1 invested by state government20 to help reduce crime, encourage economic development, .and provide clean,. Green, healthy,21 and thriving communities for all Georgians.22 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body23 recognize Keep Georgia Beautiful Day at the state capitol.24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed25 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the26 press.27 S. R. 653 - 2 -