Marble City selected to participate in ‘Paint Oklahoma Beautiful’ initiative

Marble City is among 19 communities recently selected to participate in “Paint Oklahoma Beautiful.” According to a press release from the state of Oklahoma, the “Keep Oklahoma Beautiful” initiative Paint Oklahoma Beautiful is a program which encourages volunteers to seek out community structures and renovate them with the creative use of resources.

The Marble City Farmers Market has been chosen as one of the participating groups this year, according to state officials. The Marble City Farmers Market will be among the groups competing for the “Best Visual Award” through the Communities Primed for Change online contest. Finalists will be chosen based on their before and after photos. Winners will be announced at the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful 33rd Annual Environmental Excellence Awards Celebration on Nov. 17. “We’re very excited about this,” Tamara Hibbard, Marble City mayor said. “We invite everyone down for a paint party from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 9. Any extra paint we have will be used for the other buildings in Marble City. We were very surprised to get this but we’re especially excited to be one of seven communities to receive the power washers.”

Hibbard said the paint party will include fun events, music and prizes.

“Marble City Farmers and Art Market has been open for about a year and a half. We’ve been growing slowly and working to get the Old Drain Grocery Store renovated so we can move in there. It will be an open air Market for our vendors,” Donna Brackett, Marble City Farmers Market Manager, said.

Hibbard said any volunteer groups or anyone wanting to help paint can call 918-775-3002.

“I applied for the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful paint project hoping to get some paint to help with the renovation project. I didn’t realize that it was a competitive award and that we would be going against so many other projects! We are extremely excited to be selected to participate in this program. If anyone wants to come help us paint, we will be holding a special Evening Farmers and Art Market and Paint Party on September 9. Our market has been approved for SNAP and WIC. Hopefully we will have our EBT machines by the 9th.”

Paint Oklahoma Beautiful is a program which was founded on the collaboration between H-I-S Paint and Keep Oklahoma Beautiful. With sponsors’ help, KOB provides the paint and a stipend for supplies. Selected communities supply the volunteers and elbow grease. This program has helped revitalize Oklahoma communities with a fresh coat of paint, Dillon Wehba, programs coordinator, stated.

“H-I-S Paint is thrilled with the transformations being made within each community participating in the Paint Oklahoma Beautiful initiative,” Joe Cox, founder and CEO of H-I-S Paint, said. “It’s amazing how a fresh coat of paint can help to transform an entire community.”

Wehba said he works with potential participants throughout the application process.

“My heart smiles assisting communities with the Paint Oklahoma Beautiful truly exemplify volunteerism and how people coming together can make a big change!”

When the Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) began to support the program, KOB could offer participating groups a cash stipend to purchase supplies and make the program cost effective for participating groups.

“Public Service Company of Oklahoma is pleased to continue its support of Paint Oklahoma Beautiful and of the individuals and organizations who work hard to make their communities great places to live and work,” James A. Evers, formerly with State Governmental & Environmental Affairs for PSO, said.

CL Boyd, an Oklahoma equipment company and Waste Management, a waste-treatment company, are providing a total of seven pressure washers together to the recipients of their equipment grant. The winners of the power washers are the Canute Preservation & Restoration Project, the Town of El Dorado, Marble City Farmers Market, City of Stroud, Springtown Historical Foundation, Legacy Group and Newton’s Garage, Laverne.

The group will have 30 days to complete their projects using donated paint and stipend.