Some towns participate in America in Bloom for the purpose of benefiting from the evaluation, and in so doing, use their first year to create a "baseline" from which future endeavors may evolve and be measured.

New Bedford, Massachusetts offers tremendous heritage and remarkable challenges. During the whaling era, it was the richest city in the world, hence the city's motto, Lucem Diffundo (We Light the World). Ideally located between Boston and New York, it offers beaches, bays, and heritage sites to explore, making it an ideal tourism site.

The mayor recongnizes that for the tourism initiative to be successful, cleanliness is an essential element. He has initiated Harbor Cleanup Days and a "clean sweep" program where volunteers from all sectors of the city come together once a month for seven months to clean various parts of the city. 

The city has also initiated "Building a Better New Bedford" to aggressively deal with abandoned properties, strengthen code enforcement, and provide financial incentives to people who want to improve neighborhoods and the housing stock. These two programs result in increased pride, improved properties, and a growth of volunteerism.

So, if your town isn't perfect, or has just started on the path to improvements, let America in Bloom help. The judges can offer extensive suggestions and support that will help you achieve your goals.