ANLA and PLANET on Course to Join Forces

After seven months of discussions by a joint task force of volunteers from the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) and the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), the two associations are on course to merge. PLANET was the result of a merger in 2004 between the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) and the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA).

The board of directors of the ANLA and PLANET ?EUR??,,????'??have agreed to sign a letter of intent to merge.?EUR??,,????'?? Agreement by the ANLA Senate is necessary for ANLA to move forward. If the ANLA Senate agrees at its meeting in July, a more formal evaluation will begin. If the merger happens, it would likely occur in 2006.

?EUR??,,????'??With all the challenges and opportunities faced by the green industry, it makes sense for our national associations to be working smarter, not just harder,?EUR??,,????'?? says Peter Orum, ANLA president. ?EUR??,,????'??Bringing these two leading associations together would dramatically increase the industry's lobbying profile in Washington, D.C.?EUR??,,????'??

?EUR??,,????'??When PLANET was formed in 2004, our leadership hoped that it would be the first step to expand the scope and capabilities of a single, larger national association for the industry,?EUR??,,????'?? explained Dan Foley, PLANET president. ?EUR??,,????'??These discussions with ANLA are an encouragement that ALCA and PLCAA were on to something.?EUR??,,????'??

The most compelling reasons for the merger would be a national association with combined revenues of more than $9 million and a staff of 48, resources larger than about 75% of the trade associations in the U.S. The combined membership would exceed 6,000.

The merged associations would represent the full spectrum of the industry: agricultural nursery production; wholesale distribution; retail garden centers; landscape design and installation; lawn care; maintenance; and interior plantscape services. Both organizations have members involved in the landscape design/build sector, with approximately 150 companies holding membership in both associations.