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While Monday’s business meeting of the Chambers County Commission was short, one of the lone agenda items made a big impact. Chambers Troup Group LLC donated $10,000 to Clean Chambers. 

“They wanted to make a donation to the Chambers County Commission, a very generous donation,” said Commissioner Debra Riley. “We discussed what we might do with the money, and we decided the best use of it would be through [Commissioner Sam Bradford’s] Keep Chambers County Beautiful Program.”

“About three years ago, the Chamber’s county commission funded a litter initiative that they began, and it started out at $6,000 and it is now being funded at $8,000,” Bradford said. 

The check from CTG LLC would more than double that funding. The money will be used as incentives for groups to pick up roadside trash.

“Any church or school group or a non-profit can pick up litter and get $250 per road mile,” Bradford said. “You take pictures and that’s the way that you document that the group has done the work. So groups can get up to $500 per effort.”

Bradford has a history as an educator and wanted to get the school involved, leading to a partnership with Alabama PALS. Alabama PALS does clean school competitions, art contests and more to get kids involved in sustainable practices. 

Tana Cannon, principal of Bob Harding Shawmut Elementary, was also present to receive recognition. Her school has received the clean school award every year Chambers County has put on the contest. 

Representatives of CTG LLC praised Chambers and the Shawmut area for their community involvement, and reiterated their commitment to improving the Shawmut village area, where the company is based. 

They also presented Commissioners Riley and Bradford with the check and a box, which the representatives said was a display from Korea. The company is an auto part assembly plant out of Valley.