There is still time to nominate a local Liberty County business for the third quarter business recognition awards program — the Win-dex Awards. The Liberty County Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Win-dex Awards recognition program with Keep Liberty Beautiful to recognize businesses in our county who make that extra effort to keep their businesses attractive and inviting.
We need your help in
giving these local businesses the recognition that
they deserve. Each quarter we select two winners —
a large business and a small business. The third quarter nominations will
be accepted through Sept. 30.
This week I have been out a good bit surveying some of the potential cleanup sites around the county for the upcoming Rivers Alive event on Oct. 25. In a few afternoons, I had noticed more than ten businesses I felt would be worthy nominations for this award. These attractive businesses are eye-catching because their exteriors and landscaping make a positive statement about who they are. They also make a statement about our community, too. Obviously, these businesses are run by people who have figured out that an attractive business is good business. Attractive businesses are an important component in creating a thriving and economically healthy community. Attractive — and successful — businesses create more business. They also attract more new businesses to our community. Growing our business community helps to create more jobs and to 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 thought that we should recognize those businesses that are so clean, so attractive, so litter-free that they would have a ‘streak-free shine.’ Every business can keep their 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? Or is the sidewalk and parking area clean and maintained? Is this area free of cigarette butts (this is litter too)?
• Are their 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?
An additional point that could be considered:
• Is the business a good citizen that works to maintain the roadway or frontage of their property where the business is located by helping to keep it attractive and litter free?
There are plenty of these attractive businesses out there. I see them every day, but it is not up to me. It is up to you. Just take a look around you. Don’t hesitate if you want to nominate your own business or the business that employs you. Many of the other nominees from the first two quarters also were fantastic, so if you have nominated a business that has not won yet, don’t give up. Nominate that business again.
Nomination forms are available at my office at Environmental Health or at the local Liberty County Chamber of Commerce office (368-4445) on Oglethorpe Highway. You can also e-mail me at klcb@libertycountyga.com for a form as well. The completed form can be mailed to P.O. Box 829, Hinesville, GA 31310, or faxed to 368-4777. And if you wish, you can e-mail your information directly by just including all of the information requested on the form. Remember that your reason for nominating a business is a crucial part of the judging, so make sure you fully explain why this business deserves recognition. Your vote counts. Send in your nomination by Sept. 30.
Upcoming Keep Liberty Beautiful projects that need your involvement:
• Oct. 25: Rivers Alive in Liberty County. Volunteers are needed. Mark the date on your calendar now to help with this annual event.
• October: Coastal Living/Cottage Living Holiday House, loaded with ideas for holiday decorating and living green. Tours begin in October and proceeds will benefit the United Way.
• Oct. 25: Munchkin scarecrow contest at the Community Fall Festival. Help us collect kids’ clothes for this fun, pint-sized event.
• Liberty County: Home of the world’s largest crayon. We are on our last major collection effort to round up crayons. Please help us make this Guinness Book of World Records project a reality by calling 368-4888 or e-mailing biglibertycrayon@yahoo.com. We have hundreds of pounds of crayons now, but need even more to create a giant crayon this fall. Crayons can be turned in to my office at 101 N. Commerce St. or the United Way office on M.L. King Jr. in downtown Hinesville.

For more information on Keep Liberty County Beautiful programs, contact Swida at 368-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.com.