New Mexico Tourism Department officials will recognize 11 New Mexico communities and organizations for their efforts at local beautification at the New Mexico Clean & Beautiful Annual Awards ceremony Friday (December 19, 2008), 1:30 p.m., at the State Capitol Building in Santa Fe

The purpose of the awards is to recognize communities and organizations for their efforts to make their communities cleaner, more beautiful and overall, making a difference by improving their community’s surrounding environment.

“Governor Bill Richardson issued a challenge that all New Mexicans do their part to keep New Mexico clean and beautiful,” said Tourism Department Secretary Michael Cerletti, “positively impacting not only on their community, but the entire state as well.”

“We honor these communities and programs for their efforts in litter control, education and elimination, beautification, recycling, graffiti and weed eradication,” said Joe Lobato, executive director of New Mexico Clean & Beautiful.  “Every year, communities take on many different projects and programs which clean up their areas of the state, and involve their citizens in taking greater responsibility in improving their cities, towns, villages and tribal lands. This is our way of thanking them for their outstanding efforts.”

New Mexico Clean & Beautiful, a program of the New Mexico Tourism Department, was created by the Litter Control and Beautification Act of 1985 and is affiliated with the national organization Keep America Beautiful, Inc. The program is charged with coordinating statewide litter control and beautification efforts.

Who: Eleven New Mexico communities
When: Friday (December 19, 2008)
Where: Rotunda - State Capitol Building, 1:30 p.m.
What: New Mexico Clean & Beautiful Awards Ceremony

Community Recognition –
Silver – City of Portales
Gold - Bernalillo County Anti-Graffiti Program, Keep Espanola Beautiful/Graffiti Task Force and the Village of Mosquero 

Affiliate Recognition –
Gold – Keep Albuquerque Beautiful, Keep Clovis Beautiful, Keep Las Cruces Beautiful, Keep Luna County Beautiful, Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful and Tierra Bonita of Valencia County