A new program to recognize local businesses for making their properties look nice is accepting nominations.
Camp Verde Town Manager Russ Martin said that if all goes well, he hopes to see the first winner sometime around January.
The idea was first brought up earlier this year by Vice Mayor Bruce George, who thought of the idea while he was out picking up litter around town.
Martin said that the town discussed a possible program with its tree committee and economic development department, as well as members of the public.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Martin said. “Based on all the information this is the most participation we’ve had on any program in a while.”
The outline of the program has been kept as simple and streamlined as possible, Martin said.
The awards would be handed out quarterly, he said.
The town would also look for people willing to judge any of the businesses that are nominated.
A Camp Verde Beautification Committee would be involved.
That could include groups like the Kiwanis Club and the Camp Verde Senior Center, previous winners of the award, committee members and others such as nonprofits like Camp Verde Promotions, which organizes events like Cornfest and Fort Verde Days, and members of the Camp Verde Chamber of Commerce.
“No one should feel left out,” Martin said.
People could nominate neighboring businesses, Martin said.
While what qualifies as beautification is subjective, Martin said it shouldn’t be difficult for the program to operate.
“People will hopefully want to help pat each other on the back for doing a good job,” Martin said. “Let them know you appreciate what they do to clean up their property and what they do to make it look nice.”
The beautification committee will accept nominations and announce winners in January, April, July and October.
The awards will be presented at a Camp Verde Town Council meeting.
Once a business has won the award, they will be invited to the beautification committee provided there is an open seat.
“You’ve kept it simple and I love it,” George said.
The award might involve something as simple as a window plaque to recognize the business.
“The next step is figure how to do it, whether that’s a window plaque, I’ll leave that up to the creative mind that is [Camp Verde Economic Development Specialist] Mary McCarthy.”
Martin said he hoped that as word of the program grew, more nominations would start rolling in.
“Hopefully the news coverage in the papers would create more interest,” he said.
Ultimately, Martin said that the program might not take a lot of time or energy to operate.
Under the rules of the beautification awards program, a person doesn’t have to actually live in Camp Verde to nominate a business.
