America in Bloom launches YouTube contest

America in Bloom (AIB) is holding a YouTube Award Contest that will see one participant receive a $1,500 cash prize.

All past or present AIB members can be eligible. To be considered, videos must be between 2 and 3 minutes long and must be uploaded to YouTube. AIB suggests the videos focus on one or of more of these topics: benefits of AIB involvement, before and after photos and videos, perceived economic benefits for your community, and elements that might be used for grants, promotion, or marketing.

Judges will evaluate the videos on several components, including: effectiveness at summarazing the benefits of AIB involvement, effectiveness in achieving goals of the video, use of the video in promoting the community, number of views, and video quality.

Once your video is uploaded, let AIB know that you're participating. Send an email to aib@americainbloom.org. Include the following information in your email:

• Web link to the YouTube video
• Contact person's name
• Contact person's city and state
• Contact person's email
• Contact person's phone number

Three finalists will be featured at the 2014 America In Bloom Symposium & Awards Program in Philadelphia, Oct. 2-4. The winner will be announced at the event, but you do not have to be present to win.