Holland is a benchmark city for the America in Bloom program. So says Tony Ferrara, who knows a thing or two about what cities need to do to stand out among their peers. Ferrara has been championing America in Bloom since his days as mayor of Arroyo Grande, California, where he first became involved with the organization.

Now, as first vice president of America in Bloom, Ferrara advances their mission of motivating and educating cities to improve and enhance a number of elements, including floral displays, landscaped areas, urban forestry, and heritage preservation. Those are the things he evaluates when traveling around the country judging entries for their National Awards Program. He also looks at overall impression – their wow factor – which includes cleanliness,  public art, and all the things that make a community pop. Woven throughout all of this is community involvement and pride.

But America in Bloom is about more than just beautifying your community, says Ferrara. It’s also about leadership. Local America in Bloom organizations won’t work without inspired, dynamic leadership at the local level. You need a local champion.

His hometown of Arroyo Grande had such a champion during Ferrara’s days as mayor. That group helped the city surmount some tough financial obstacles in 2012. That’s when the governor and legislature got rid of all redevelopment agencies in the state and redirected $5 billion to offset the state’s deficit.Those agencies were the economic engine at the local level, which left cities in a quandary about how to cover many of their expenses.

Enter Arroyo Grande in Bloom. Ferrara and his city team sat down with them, looked at the severely reduced parks budget and staff, and figured out a way for that group to handle many of the duties associated with making Arroyo Grande beautiful. Now, Arroyo Grande in Bloom is an all-volunteer 501c3 that pulls together the resources of local businesses, community organizations, service clubs, and more. “We were able to reach out to them for help,” says Ferrara. “They could turn a little group of volunteers into 150 people real quick. Everyone coalesced around our mission of keeping our community beautiful.”

In the end, Ferrara’s philosophy about communities is very similar to the League’s tagline “We love where you live.” His version goes like this: “Love where you live and your community will love you.”