The Arkansas Shine Awards honors six communities (by population) each year that have adopted a comprehensive approach to keeping their hometowns clean and green.

“From curbside recycling offered by city governments to local youth groups that pick up litter at a park to gardening clubs that maintain sidewalk flower pots downtown, these individual actions and activities are part of a bigger picture of involvement that shows a community’s commitment to civic improvement,” explains Sarah Wruck, volunteer services coordinator for KAB. “It takes all these seemingly unrelated projects to develop and maintain a community that is clean, green and attractive to tourists and to business and industrial prospects. KAB is eager to recognize such well-rounded efforts.”

Winning communities are evaluated and ranked using performance standards for 1) creating environmental initiatives to reduce litter, encourage recycling and enhance natural beauty; 2) positively impacting economic development; 3) developing public-private partnerships to accomplish goals; 4) securing project funding; and 5) enforcing litter laws and city ordinances for property upkeep.

2010 Arkansas Shine Awards Winning Communities

• Eureka Springs (Pop. 2,500 or less)
  
• Waldron (Pop. 2,501-5,000)
  
• Greenwood (Pop. 5,001-10,000)
• Van Buren (Pop. 10,001-20,000)
  
• Hot Springs (Pop. 20,001-50,000)
• Fayetteville (Pop. 50,001+)

2009 Arkansas Shine Awards Winning Communities

• Brookland (Pop. 2,500 or less)
  
• Waldron (Pop. 2,501-5,000)
  
• Lowell (Pop. 5,001-10,000)
• Van Buren (Pop. 10,001-20,000)
  
• Hot Springs (Pop. 20,001-50,000)
• Fayetteville (Pop. 50,001+)

2008 Arkansas Shine Awards Winning Communities

• Eureka Springs (Pop. 2,500 or less)
• Augusta (Pop. 2,501-5,000)
• Lowell (Pop. 5,001-10,000)
• Camden (Pop. 10,001-20,000)
• Hot Springs (Pop. 20,001-50,000)
• Fayetteville (Pop. 50,001+)