Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2014

Abstract

Landscape maintenance is a large, rapidly growing, and unregulated small business sector South Carolina (SC). Beyond a pesticides applicators license, no experience or training is currently required in SC. A Lever-Initiative grant was awarded to develop an online Environmental Landscape Certification Program to help landscape professionals meet client expectations and protect SC natural resources. A survey was conducted to identify stakeholder buy-in including content, cost, and preference on learning style. In order to increase adoption by contractors and technicians, specific strategic areas throughout SC were selected to spearhead the program. Stakeholder meetings were held in March to identify barriers to success, fine-tune logistics and develop critical program content. Modules in development give detailed information on pertinent landscaping practices. This certification should help to increase the economic viability of the SC landscape industry while helping to protect natural resources.

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