Program Funds Gardens and Greenspaces in Cities Across the U.S.

MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company’s charitable foundation announced the opening of the GRO1000 Grassroots Grants award program, inviting non-profit organizations from across the country to apply for funds to improve their communities. The Grassroots Grants program, now in its seventh year, provides support to not-for-profit organizations to better their neighborhoods through the development of community gardens and greenspaces.

GRO1000 is a commitment to bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens and greenspaces to more people and communities. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation will support the creation of 1,000 community greenscapes by 2018, which aligns with the The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company’s 150^th anniversary. To date, more than 830 community organizations across the country, as well as dozens of major U.S. cities, have received program funding.

From edible gardens to pollinator habitats, urban farms to sensory gardens, GRO1000 supports all types of community-driven greenspace projects and places priority on programs that heavily involve youth. The benefits that gardens provide to a community and its residents are significant, and even more so for children. Research shows that spending time in a garden helps improve a child’s cognitive ability, develops healthy nutrition habits, and increases positive self-understanding, responsibility and maturity.

“It has been a long-standing passion of ScottsMiracle-Gro to connect children to the benefits of gardening and greenspaces,” said Jim King, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at ScottsMiracle-Gro. “This mission is brought to life in a practical and local way with the GRO1000 Grassroots Grants program. We’re honored to help communities improve through the development of gardens and greenspaces for their residents.”

The 2017 GRO1000 Grassroots Grants application is available online now at www.GRO1000.com. The deadline for application submission is February 20, 2017, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Grants range from $500 to $1,500 and are awarded based on youth engagement, community impact, harvest donation, and sustainability, among other factors. Winners will be announced on the first day of spring, March 20, 2017.

In the coming weeks, GRO1000 will also begin its annual Showcase Grants, which are awarded to four cities for the installation of innovative public gardens and greenspaces within their communities. On January 19, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and The U.S. Conference of Mayors will announce the winners of this annual award in partnership with KidsGardening.org, Plant a Row for the Hungry, Garden Writers Association Foundation, and Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. More information on the GRO1000 program can be found at www.GRO1000.com.

Contact:
Lindsay LaSala
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation
937-644-7621 (office)
937-516-2732 (mobile)
Lindsay.LaSala@Scotts.com

Kailyn Longoria
Fahlgren Mortine
614-383-1633 (office)
646-919-1234 (mobile)
kailyn.longoria@fahlgren.com