Community pride is on display.
Keep Emanuel Beautiful (KEB) has selected Durden Banking Company's Twin City branch as the latest recipient of its Beautiful Business of the Month Award, recognizing local businesses that demonstrate exceptional property maintenance, beautification efforts, and community pride.
Located at 111 North Railroad Avenue in Twin City, the bank was selected during KEB's March 2026 meeting. The award was formally presented on Thursday, May 14.
Representing KEB during the presentation were Emanuel County Commissioner Jim Sherrod and KEB members Elease Turner, George Elder, and Richard Claxton. Accepting the award on behalf of Durden Banking Company was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Matt Donaldson and Chief Operating Officer Jim Cowart.
KEB Chair Tony Hutcheson says the award, indicative of its name, highlights businesses that help make Emanuel County a cleaner, more attractive place to live, work, and visit.
"We envisioned it to complement the long-standing Yard of the Month ran by one of our local garden clubs for residences. We thought that was a great program, and we certainly don't want to take away from it. If anything, we hope this adds to the type of celebratory opportunities here at home. We know lots of people look forward to getting that Yard of the Month sign because they work hard on their properties and take a lot of pride in them. We hope our award will do the same for our businesses."
The Beautiful Business of the Month Award recognizes businesses that contribute positively to the appearance of Emanuel County through overall cleanliness, landscaping, exterior upkeep, and other beautification efforts.
Following the implementation of the inaugural award, KEB revisited the program's structure and nomination process. Because the organization meets only periodically and nominations and voting often span multiple meetings, the board voted to transition the recognition to a quarterly presentation schedule while retaining the established Beautiful Business of the Month name.
Businesses continue to be nominated by KEB members and considered through a formal nomination and voting process.
However, if you have a business you’d like KEB to consider giving the new award to, send a line to Keep Emanuel Beautiful on Facebook.
The next nomination session for the Beautiful Business of the Month honor is tentatively set to happen when the organization reconvenes in June.
KEB meetings are open to the public and held on the third Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at Franklin Memorial Library. There are no dues to participate, only a willingness to help keep Emanuel County clean, attractive, and welcoming.
