GRO1000 Gardens and Green Spaces Grant Award Recipients Announced

The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. announced the recipients of the 2012 GRO1000 Gardens and Green Spaces Grant Awards Program. The grants, which focus on improving the nation's cities through the development of community gardens and green spaces, were announced at USCM’s 80th Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. This year's winning cities are: Baltimore; Columbia, S.C.; Cleveland; Corpus Christi, Texas; and San Francisco.

Through a new partnership with USCM and Scotts Miracle-Gro, grants are awarded to cities for the creation of innovative public gardens and green spaces, as well as recognize mayoral stewardship in the development of urban greenscapes.

The winning cities were selected by a panel of former mayors and national garden experts from a pool of more than 80 applicants. Grants, in the amount of $25,000 from Scotts Miracle-Gro, were awarded to the five cities.

"Mayors understand that gardens and green spaces are important to the quality of life for their residents, and [USCM], in partnership with Scotts Miracle-Gro, is pleased to be able to provide grants to help them expand green spaces in their cities," said Tom Cochran, USCM CEO and executive director.