Public Communications serves as a communications link between the city of Columbia’s municipal government and the citizens. The Public Communications Office coordinates several programs that are designed to link citizens with their city government.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Leigh Britt, Volunteer Coordinator - (573) 874-7504

America In Bloom judges are coming to Columbia!

COLUMBIA, MO (June 16, 2008) - Two judges will visit Columbia June 22-24 as part of the America In Bloom (AIB) national beautification campaign and contest. Columbia is one of 39 cities competing in 10 population categories in this friendly contest that promotes community involvement, patriotism and civic pride along with beautiful landscapes.

America In Bloom is modeled after Canada’s successful Communities In Bloom program, which began more than eight years ago with just 29 cities and has grown to include several hundred competing provincially, nationally and internationally. AIB began on a small scale in 2001 when four U.S. cities were mentored by Canadian cities in Canada’s program. Judges appraise community efforts in eight categories – tidiness, environmental awareness, community involvement, heritage, urban forestry, landscaped areas, floral displays and turf and ground cover areas.

Columbia’s judges are Matt Rosen, retired horticulture manager of the city of Des Moines, Iowa, and Julie Riley, horticulturist with the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service. Rosen and Riley are professionally trained volunteers and will evaluate each community within Columbia’s population category.

“Columbia is participating in the America In Bloom to receive a third-party evaluation of our beautification and environmental activities,” said Leigh Britt, volunteer coordinator for the city of Columbia. “Volunteers play an important role in nearly every criteria evaluated by America In Bloom so the program is a great way to highlight their efforts.”

Observations from the judges’ visit will be shared at the America In Bloom awards symposium, to be held in October in Columbus, Ohio. For local information about Columbia’s participation, contact Leigh Britt at 874-7504 or visit the city’s Web site at www.GoColumbiaMo.com. For additional information on the national program, contact America In Bloom at 614-487-1117 or visit www.americainbloom.org.

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