Keep RC Beautiful
about our partnership
Have you ever heard the term road rage? Well that’s where this story started. Keep Rutherford County Beautiful is an initiative to rid Rutherford County's public spaces of unsightly litter.
We were collectively invested in pulling people to the area through tourism, yet the locals had lost sight of community pride and responsibility to not leave their trash on the roadsides, trails, parking lots and parks. Enter Artifacturing with an army of volunteers, a board and a small yearly budget, all committed to driving meaningful change.
what we achieved
Branding
Partnerships
Bringing people together requires more than just planning events; it takes a deep understanding of the community you're serving and a commitment to fostering meaningful connections. We believe in deeply understanding the community, engaging with its leaders to gain their support for our mission, and consistently delivering on our promises while exceeding expectations.
We've made it our mission not only to beautify the streets but also to connect with the youth of our county, forming educated ambassadors for the future. By making programming available at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, we are investing in the next generation and ensuring a brighter future for our community.
Marketing
Getting people excited about trash is quite a feat. Social media often serves as a break from reality, with users focusing on their favorite topics. However, we discovered that by tagging community partners and encouraging friendly competition, we could rally support for our cause and boost engagement on our social media pages.
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We generated success and excitement by partnering with local businesses, towns, school systems, and other non-profits. We leveraged the concept of "friendly competition" in many of our programs, encouraging students to get involved and rewarding them with individual and team awards.
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One of our proudest achievements is the Litter Bowl trophy, which travels to the Rutherford County high school that collects the most trash each year. This unique running trophy, built from old VW car parts and featuring five plaques, has become a symbol of community pride and environmental stewardship. Our community is truly amazing!
Work Stories
Jenna Bailey and Artifacturing have played a key role in the success of Keep RC Beautiful. The creative ideas and thinking outside the box have motivated community leaders and volunteers to be a part of this noteworthy program and led to many tons of litter being picked up off our streets and highways, not to mention the education that has prevented litter from hitting our community because of the communication and education.
Don Cason, Executive Director for Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority
