One of Mississippi’s top tourism officials told attendees of Keep Pike County Beautiful’s annual awards banquet on Monday that cleanliness, beautification and civic pride go a long way in promoting a community.
Keep Pike County Beautiful recognized award recipients during the event at St. Andrew’s Senior Center for their work in fighting local litter. Malcolm White, tourism division director for the Mississippi Development Authority, was guest speaker.
KPCB executive director Lisa Loth and board member Virginia Goza presented awards.
Harry Young won the litter prevention award for work in his neighborhood. International Paper won the corporate sponsor award. The Jubilee Performing Arts Center won the Great American Cleanup award, and Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church won the beautification award.
Joseph Parker was recognized as a Keep Mississippi Beautiful state winner for his work cleaning up the Bogue Chitto River with local Boy Scouts.
With artwork from recycled materials made by JPAC students lining the tables and decorating the room, White spoke to the audience on the impact good habits can have on a community.
“The artwork here today is very impressive, and very unique and very much not taken for granted by this out-of-town visitor,” he said. “I think in terms of the KPCB group, there is no larger calling than to put your best foot forward and be focused on that first impression.”
For White, cleanliness and beautification are not only vital for the upkeep of natural resources, there also is a link to economic development.
“I guarantee you clean communities succeed, dirty community do not,” he said. “If you do not think cleanliness is a key component of economic development then you need to rethink that concept.“
Businesses scout out locations and move where employees will be happy. Businesses stay where employees are happy, White said.
“I think beautification and cleanliness are essential components to attracting business, keeping business and economic development,” he said.
White said the work done by KPCB transcends politics. Maintaining and improving communities is not attached to the right or the left, Republican or Democrat.
“This is not a political issue,” he said. “This is an issue of economic development and civic pride and whether or not you are perceived as being successful.”
White, who owns Jackson’s Hal and Mal’s restaurant and concert venue, ended his speech by lauding KPCB on the work it does. Cleanliness and beautification may seem low on the list of things a community needs to accomplish. However, he said it’s essential for community growth and happiness.
“Thank you for what you do,” he said. “In my mind, and in the opinion of the people I work with, this is an incredibly important idea. What you do really matters.”
Both White and Loth encouraged the audience to renew memberships or become members of KPCB. Go to www.kpcbonline.com for more information.
