Keep Levelland Beautiful (KLB) and the Levelland Chamber of Commerce are excited to announce the launch of the Beautify Highway 114 Initiative. This program is specifically focused on cleaning up and maintaining Highway 114.
Mary Siders, President of the Levelland Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Highway 114 is integral to our community, and making it look better and keeping it clean is not a quick fix. For many years, community leaders, along with TXDOT and Watco, who own the state highway and railroad right of ways, have been strategically discussing ways to clean up and maintain this area. It’s our gateway and needs to look appealing when citizens or guests come to Levelland.”
Siders noted that many residents and businesses are adopting the areas by their locations and maintaining them. “For years, residents like Joe Dee Brooks, Matt McDonald at the Farmers Coop Compress, and the Brock family have just made it happen. They clean it up with their manpower and expense because they care and take pride in this great place, we all call home and do business.” From these efforts, the Chamber brought in KLB and created the Beautify Highway 114 Initiative.
Kelly Hancock, Special Events Manager and KLB affiliate with the Chamber, created a task force whose specific purpose was to engage Levelland businesses in maintaining and beautifying Highway 114. Hancock applauded the efforts and vision of Smith Auto Family, who jumped right on board. “They clean all the areas surrounding their business. Smith Auto Family cleans and maintains their area because they are one of the first businesses coming into Levelland and they take pride it. The cleanups allow them to have comradery among employees. Our goal with this group is to connect the efforts and engage more businesses to do the same.” “ As you come into Levelland on Highway 114 from Lubbock, you will see mowed and maintained areas and then adjacent are neglected, less appealing areas. We want to encourage business owners to ‘adopt’ their immediate areas and keep them clean.
TXDOT is budgeted to maintain these areas, but only mows twice a year. When we have rainfall, additional maintenance is needed, and that is where we hope local businesses who work or live on Highway 114 will join the Beautify Highway 114 Initiative.”
KLB is seeking interested entities and individuals to participate in the Highway 114 Initiative. Program partners will be asked to participate in beautification projects. This includes mowing, weed eating, spraying weeds, and trimming of other vegetation and litter cleanups of designated public and private areas at regular intervals.
In return, KLB agrees to promote the business and send a press release to the local media recognizing their efforts. Hancock said the task force, made up of Barbra Pinner, KLB volunteer, Adrian Mellberg, South Plains College, Nicole Campbell, Smith Auto Family, Kati Moody, South Plains College, Tammy Franklin, KLB volunteer, Ashley Hanson, Texas Agri-Life, and Breann Buxkemper, City Mayor will be reaching out to all entities on Highway 114 to discuss details and engage more partners. Anyone interested should contact the Chamber at 806-894-3157 or email Kelly Hancock at specialevents@levelland.com .
The task force reached out to several seasoned and professional business partners that are already doing an outstanding job in keeping the areas around their businesses tidy, and we need more to become involved. These testimonials can be seen by watching a video KLB can email to you, or by visiting the Chamber website or Facebook page. These business owners are encouraging others to join in and make Highway 114 look better.
For more information about the initiative or to volunteer, please contact the Levelland Chamber of Commerce by calling 806-894-3157 or email specialevents@levelland.com www.levelland.com