Grants Help Transform Communities
MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 6, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE:SMG) today announces its fifth year of the GRO1000 Grassroots Grants award program. GRO1000 rewards deserving communities and not-for-profit civic organizations seeking to develop sustainable community gardens and green spaces.
The program is part of the company's commitment to support the creation of more than 1,000 community gardens and green spaces in the U.S., Canada and Europe by 2018, in conjunction with its 150th anniversary. To date, hundreds of community projects have received GRO1000 funding.
"Gardens and green spaces have the power to transform our cities and the lives of their residents," said Jim King, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer. "Through GRO1000, our goal is to bring the positive influence of these green spaces to more and more communities."
The 2015 GRO1000 Grassroots Grant application is available online at www.GRO1000.com. The deadline for application submission is February 13, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Grants, which range from $500 to $1,500, are awarded based on community impact, youth involvement, harvest donation and sustainability, among other factors. Winners will be announced on the first day of spring, March 20, 2015.
ScottsMiracle-Gro also launched today a new GRO1000 website, www.GRO1000.com. The new website showcases the program with statistics on the impact GRO1000 has had on communities thus far, stories from previous recipients, and information to assist with the grant application process.
The site will include information on the program's annual GRO1000 Showcase Grants, which are awarded to four cities for the installation of innovative public gardens and green spaces within their communities. On January 22, ScottsMiracle-Gro and the U.S. Conference of Mayors will announce the winners of this annual award in conjunction with program partners Plant a Row for the Hungry, Garden Writers Association, National Gardening Association, and Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
For the first time, a city will be selected for a GRO1000 grant through public voting available at www.miraclegro.com/RoseParade. The winner of the "GRO1000 People's Choice Community Garden Grant" will be selected from a list of nominees, including Detroit, Michigan; New York City, New York; Oakland, California; and Orlando, Florida. The contest was first announced as part of ScottsMiracle-Gro's involvement in the Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1. Voting will remain open through February 9 and the winner will be announced by mid-February.
About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With more than $2.8 billion in worldwide sales, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro® and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. In the U.S., we operate Scotts LawnService®, the second largest residential lawn care service business. In Europe, the Company's brands include Weedol®, Pathclear®, Evergreen®, Levington®, Miracle-Gro®, KB®, Fertiligène® and Substral®. For additional information, visit us at www.scotts.com.
CONTACT: Mona Eadeh
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
937-578-1388 (office)
937-594-7727 (mobile)
mona.eadeh@Scotts.com
Janelle Huelsman
Fahlgren Mortine
614-383-1627 (office)
419-953-8609 (mobile)
janelle.huelsman@fahlgren.com
Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
