CONTACT: Sara Kangas, NACD Director of Communications
(202) 547-6223; sara-kangas@nacdnet.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 1, 2020

NACD and THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO FOUNDATION
ANNOUNCE RENEWED PARTNERSHIP

WASHINGTON – Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation (SMGF) announced a renewal of their partnership to enhance and support natural resource management at the local level and continue educating Americans about the importance of protecting water and land resources.

NACD and SMGF have partnered since Fall 2012 to bring free urban and community (U&C) conservation webinars to the public. These monthly webinars feature projects and programs covering a range of topics, such as water quality and quantity, soil health, outreach and marketing, urban and community gardens and more.

“NACD is proud to continue our partnership with SMGF to advance urban and community conservation education,” NACD President Tim Palmer said. “ScottsMiracle-Gro has been the sole sponsor of this webinar series since September 2012, and we’re pleased to continue our work to highlight conservation districts’, federal agencies’ and national organizations’ programs and resources.”

Through the agreement, NACD renews its membership in SMGF’s National Partner Network, which focuses its work on water quality and conservation, as well as the protection and expansion of pollinator habitats. The agreement also provides funding for updating “Backyard Conservation: Lawns and the Environment Outreach,” free, sustainable lawn-management materials originally developed in 2011.

These materials are designed to help conservation districts teach urban and suburban landowners how to improve their soil and water quality through best management practices (BMPs), including proper mowing techniques and improved grass clipping and leaf management.

“Partnering with NACD enables us to reach thousands of homeowners and landowners across the country with critical sustainability and conservation education,” said Carol Kauffman, corporate social responsibility manager for ScottsMiracle-Gro. “As part of our Foundation’s ongoing commitment to water stewardship, it’s our goal to share best stewardship practices with as many Americans as possible to protect and secure clean waterways and natural resources.”

Recordings of all U&C webinars since September 2013, as well as a list of upcoming U&C webinar topics, are available on NACD’s website, http://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/webinars/.