During its 8th annual symposium and award s program in Hershey, Pa., America in Bloom announced the winners of the 2009 criteria and population category awards. AIB is a national campaign and contest that promotes community enhancement through beautification. Communities are matched by population and evaluated on their efforts related to floral displays, urban forestry, landscaped areas, turf and groundcover, tidiness, environmental awareness, heritage conservation and community involvement. Population category award winners included: Echo, Ore. (4,000 and less); Charles City, Iowa (4,001-10,000); River Falls, Wisc, (10,001-20,000); Collierville, Tenn. (20,001-50,000); Lompoc Valley, Calif. (50,001-100,000) and Milwaukee, Wisc. (over 100,000). Winner of the 1st annual John R. Holmes III Community Champion Award was Rick Webb of Logan, Ohio.