The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Opens Final Year of GRO1000 Grassroots Grants to Benefit Communities Through Gardens

MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 02, 2018 -- Today, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation announced the opening of the GRO1000 Grassroots Grants award program, inviting nonprofit organizations from across the country to apply for funds to improve their communities. The Grassroots Grants program, now in its eighth and final year, provides support to not-for-profit organizations to better their neighborhoods through the development of community gardens and greenspaces.

The GRO1000 program will have funded the creation or enhancement of 1,000 community greenscapes in every state in the U.S. by spring 2018. The program was originally developed to celebrate The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company’s 150^th anniversary, which is this year.

“It has been a great honor to improve hundreds of neighborhoods and thousands of lives through the development of these community gardens and greenspaces,” said Jim King, president and chairman of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation. “The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation looks forward to continuing its mission to connect people with the life-enhancing benefits of gardens.”

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 significantly benefit youth. To date, the GRO1000 program has helped fund more than 12.7 million square feet of revitalized greenspace and 14,400 new garden beds. GRO1000 gardens are donating an estimated 560,000 pounds, or 2.9 million meals, of produce annually, and have helped connect more than 205,000 youth across America to meaningful experiences with nature.

The 2018 GRO1000 Grassroots Grants application is available online now at www.GRO1000.com. The deadline for application submission is February 19, 2018, 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, 2018.

In the coming weeks, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation will announce plans for its milestone 1,000th garden dedication and its continued work to support communities through the development of gardens and greenspaces. More information on the GRO1000 program can be found at www.GRO1000.com.

About The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation
The mission of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation is to inspire, connect and cultivate a community of purpose. The Foundation is deeply rooted in helping create healthier communities, empower the next generation, and preserve our planet. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that funds non-profit entities that support its core initiatives in the form of grants, endowments and multi-year capital gifts. For more information, visit www.scottsmiraclegrofoundation.org.

Contact:
Lindsay LaSala
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation
937-644-7621 (office)
937-516-2732 (mobile)
[email protected]

Kailyn Longoria
Fahlgren Mortine
614-383-1633 (office)
646-919-1234 (mobile)
[email protected]