Scotts Miracle-Gro brings back GRO1000 Grassroots Grants

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.  is accepting applications for its GRO1000 Grassroots Grants award program through Feb. 13.

GRO1000 rewards communities and nonprofit civic organizations seeking to develop sustainable community gardens and green spaces. Grants, ranging from $500 to $1,500, are awarded based on community impact, youth involvement, harvest donation and sustainability, among other factors. Winners will be unveiled on the first day of spring, March 20.

The Gro1000 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 VP 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 GRO1000.com—a newly launched website for the grant program that includes statistics on its success and application details. The site also includes 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 Jan. 22, Scotts Miracle-Gro and the U.S. Conference of Mayors will name 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.

In addition, for the first time, a city will be selected for a GRO1000 grant through public voting available at miraclegro.com/RoseParade. The winner of the “GRO1000 People’s Choice Community Garden Grant” will be selected from a list of nominees, including Detroit; New York City; Oakland, Calif.; and Orlando, Fla. Voting will remain open through Feb.9 and the winner will be announced by mid-February.