Creating an attractive Liberty County is good for all of us who live here.
Attractive, clean communities attract businesses and new people who might want to live there. And they are healthier places.
It is, once again, time to recognize our local businesses that make extra efforts to make our community an engaging place to live, work and, most fun of all, shop. Keep Liberty Beautiful and the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce recognize two local businesses each quarter that are attractive and litter-free by giving them Win-dex Awards.
These businesses set the standards for the way all of our businesses should look. But you can have a say-so in which businesses are selected by sending in a nomination. Since 2008, the Win-dex Awards have recognized a variety of local businesses that make the extra effort to present an attractive and inviting appearance. The chamber and KLB sponsor the awards recognition program to encourage our business community, as well as local citizens, to remember that we are what we look like to those who visit our community, so let’s try to always look great.
Attractive businesses make a statement about our community.  Obviously, these businesses are run by people who have figured out that an attractive business is good business for them, too. Attractive, successful businesses create more business and attract new businesses to our community. Growing our business community helps create more jobs and maintain a stable local economy. That is good for all of us! So help us celebrate these businesses making this kind of effort.
We call these awards the Win-dex Awards because we wanted to recognize those businesses that are so clean, so attractive, so litter-free that they have a streak-free shine. Every business can keep its exterior or storefront neat and their landscape attractive — no matter what the size or budget of the company.  
Here are some things to think about your nomination:
• Is the exterior clean and litter-free?  
• Is the landscape well-maintained?
•Is the building exterior attractive and not in need of repair?
•Is the frontage property mowed and litter-free?
•Is the sidewalk and parking area clean and maintained?
•Is this area free of cigarette butts?
•Are there attractive plantings decorating the exterior?
• Have they recently upgraded or renovated? This could be a simple paint job to spruce things up or a full-scale renovation or new building.
•Is the entryway inviting?
There are plenty of these attractive businesses out there. I see them every day, but it is not up to me — it’s up to you.  
Don’t hesitate if you want to nominate your own business or the business that you work for. Many businesses out there deserve recognition; make that happen with your nomination.  
Nomination forms are at the KLB office at 101 N. Commerce St. in Hinesville or at the chamber office at 425 W. Oglethorpe Highway in Hinesville. For more information, call 880-4888 or 368-4445 or email klcb@coastalnow.net. We will accept nominations through June 30. Awards will be announced in mid-July at the next Progress Through People luncheon.