America in Bloom helps towns and cities of all sizes strengthen civic pride, beautify public spaces, and build lasting community connections. This page provides everything you need to learn about the program, how it works, and how your community can get involved.
Communities that are more welcoming and vibrant have a competitive advantage in stimulating economic development, creating a thriving place for people to work and live, and attracting tourists. Success starts with colorful plants and trees, clean and healthy environments, community vitality, and help from America in Bloom.
America in Bloom (AIB) has been helping to transform communities into beautiful and vibrant places for more than 25 years. Our mission is to assist towns and cities of all sizes to enjoy the economic, environmental, and quality of life benefits that come from community beautification efforts, heritage preservation, environmental initiatives, and civic pride. The AIB program inspires people to work together to enhance their community by focusing on key areas that improve the quality of life.
Nearly 400 communities from across the country have been involved in America in Bloom.
Benefits
There are immediate and long-term benefits of participating in the AIB program because residents, businesses, and organizations come together to collaborate on common goals that benefit the whole community:
- Greater economic development
- Improved quality of life
- Strengthened civic pride
- Beautified public spaces
- Increased tourism
- Enhanced community vitality
Get your community involved today.
Key Elements of the Program
Evaluation:
Participating communities are visited by trained Advisors who provide constructive feedback and evaluate the community in:
Community vitality
Flowers and landscaping
Urban forestry
Environmental initiatives
Heritage preservation
Overall impression
Community involvement
Action and Recognition:
‘The Advisors’ written report is an action plan that includes observations and suggestions in the seven AIB areas of impact. This action plan is a valuable roadmap and planning tool for projects and improvements you can implement right away. AIB provides a roadmap for success by acknowledging and celebrating the big and small things you are doing to transform your community.
The Advisors Report: Your Roadmap to Success
The team of Advisors that visits your community will provide a written evaluation report that will serve as a catalyst for community transformation. We’ve been told you could hire consultants for $50,000 and not get the type of report you get from the AIB Advisors. You can expect from the report:
1
Customized, Actionable Feedback:
The report offers tailored recommendations specific to the community’s strengths, opportunities, and challenges. These practical suggestions span AIB’s core criteria (like floral displays, environmental efforts, community vitality, and more) and are designed to guide future improvement efforts.
2
An Outside Perspective from Experts:
Advisors bring a fresh, experienced viewpoint. Their insights often reveal potential or issues local leaders may overlook, helping the community see itself through the eyes of visitors, potential investors, and residents.
3
Recognition of Strengths and Successes:
The report highlights what the community is doing well, celebrating achievements and encouraging continued progress. This affirmation can boost morale and provide a foundation for marketing and grant applications.
4
Strategic Planning Resource:
Many communities use the report as a planning tool. It can inform long-term goals, support comprehensive planning efforts, and help prioritize projects across departments and partners.
5
Stronger Community Engagement:
By sharing the findings with residents, civic groups, and local leaders, communities can foster dialogue, build momentum, and rally volunteers and stakeholders around common goals for improvement and pride of place.
Participants in the America in Bloom Program include communities of all sizes, business districts, college and university campuses, and military installations. There’s a category just right for your community.
Committees may include a member of the municipal council, members of service groups, businesses, garden clubs, historical societies, youth groups, faith communities, or others interested in horticulture, heritage, and improving community life, volunteers of all types, and media. Engage municipal departments, such as parks and recreation, public works, economic development, and tourism, as well.
Inventory your community’s assets, interests, and abilities in each of the areas America in Bloom Advisors will evaluate: Community Vitality, Flowers and Landscapes, Urban Forestry, Environmental Initiatives, Heritage Preservation, and Overall Impression.
- Encourage volunteers of every demographic to participate.
- Inform and engage the media.
- Prepare a community profile that summarizes your achievements in the evaluated area (a template will be provided).
- Develop an itinerary for the Advisor’s tour.
Specially trained, experienced advisors typically visit towns of similar population. They offer suggestions based on successes they’ve seen in other cities that can be adapted to your community.
Two professional volunteer America in Bloom Advisors will visit your community. Provide lodging for up to three nights and provide a comprehensive tour for them.
At the Symposium & Awards Program, you will get ideas by networking with other participants. Learn from outstanding speakers and tours. Celebrate your achievements. Be recognized for the efforts of everyone who helped to make a difference.
Review the Advisors’ evaluation report. It provides useful, practical, and personalized ideas for improvements. Use it as an action plan and springboard for new projects and programs.
Want More Information?
Want to learn more learn more about how America in Bloom can help your community become a beautiful and vibrant place to live, work, play, learn, and serve? Then let’s schedule a Zoom meeting so we can share with you information about AIB, what we are about, and how we are impacting communities. It takes about 30 minutes, and then time for questions. Would you like to set up a time that we can do this over Zoom? If so, email the AIB office now, and we’ll set up a Zoom meeting that works with your schedule. You are welcome to include others if you want them to learn about AIB as well.
Testimonials
“We have benefited from America in Bloom in so many ways. We’ve experienced an overall enhanced sense of community spirit. We are appreciative of the America in Bloom program for inspiring Coshocton to create the positive transformations taking place throughout our community.”
Jan Myers
Roscoe Village Foundation Board,
Coshocton, Ohio
“This initiative has further grown our community into a vibrant, welcoming place where people choose to live, work, and play. It creates a lasting legacy and improves the quality of life for everyone.”
Chris Barnett
Orion Township,
Michigan Supervisor
“We are excited about everything America in Bloom does to help make our community thrive. AIB makes us aware of what we can be and what we can do. You can’t buy that kind of expertise and care. You should be a part of this wonderful organization.”
Mary Hawkins Butler
Mayor of Madison,
Mississippi
“If you’re going to have an economically viable town, you need to have a marketing plan that attracts the customer to come into your town. I look at the America in Bloom program as that marketing plan.”
Nancy Chennault
Castle Rock,
Washington
