Goals IGIA Specialty Crop Grant ProjectEach year, the USDA allocates funding through the state departments of agriculture that is used to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. The Illinois Department of Agriculture received more than $591,000 through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Producer groups, trade associations, nonprofits, colleges, and universities were eligible to apply for these funds, which were split between ten projects intended to strengthen the state’s specialty crop industry. In April 2020, IGIA applied for grant funds that would allow us to create a digital platform where motivated buyers can connect with the quality plant material they seek, ultimately linking them to a local producer where they can complete the purchase. The funds would also provide for a digital campaign to drive traffic to the platform to promote plants and IGIA members. In October, we were notified that we received funding to proceed with the project! Project Goals1. Drive customers to independent retailers for high quality plants using social and digital marketing tactics. Project TimelinePhase One (Retail Consumer Focus)
ICN Pro Plant SelectionsAs part of the GardenIllinois.com redesign, we will have a renewed focus on promoting Illinois Certified Nursery Professionals. One way we'll do that is by promoting favorite plant selections, as recommended by ICN Pros, on GardenIllinois.com and social media. Pros are not limited to what type of plant they can promote as their favorite selection, but it would be best for a Pro's selection to be in alignment with the plants their employer actively promotes since we will be encouraging customers to visit their website and/or retail location as part of the call-to-action. We are asking for 2021 Pro Plant Selections to be submitted by January 30, but we can make exceptions if needed. You will be asked to update your selection again when you renew your certification next December. If you are not currently employed by a green industry business that operates in a retail capacity, we can still share your Pro Plant Selection, but it won't link customers to a specific business. If you are employed by a green industry business that is not an IGIA member, we will still share your Pro Plant Selection, but it won't be linked to a specific retail location. SUBMIT YOUR ICN PRO PLANT SELECTION NOWIGIA Members - Plant Library / Member LocatorAll active IGIA members will be included in the member locator, just as they are on the current GardenIllinois.com website. We would like all of our retail members to be part of the plant library, but we will give you an opportunity to opt-out if you do not wish to participate. We will also give you the opportunity to submit your customized plant list. We'll work with you to load your plant catalog (not real-time inventory, just the list of plants you carry throughout the season) into our system. The easiest way to accomplish will be via Excel upload. If you don't already have your plant list available electronically, we recommend you spend time in January and February getting the list entered into an Excel spreadsheet. If you do not want to have a customized list made available, then we will use the generic list of plants for your garden center, which will be created based on the compilation of multiple IGIA members' lists. Wholesale growers will have the opportunity to become part of this process in Fall 2021. More details will be communicated at a later date. |