DALTON, GA — In a directive just handed down by President Obama, synthetic turf products made by AstroTurf and SYNLawn will become an increasingly important resource in federal government purchasing.

President Obama has directed the federal government to dramatically increase the purchase of biobased products over the next two years, which will create jobs and drive innovation where biobased products are grown and manufactured. The decision will also result in a 50 percent increase in the number of new products that are designated as biobased. Biobased products include items like paints, soaps and detergents, synthetic turf, and carpet are developed from farm grown plants, rather than chemicals or petroleum bases. The biobased products sector marries the two most important economic engines for rural America: agriculture and manufacturing.

AstroTurf, a member of the Biobased Products Coalition, makes synthetic turf which features backing made by Universal Textile Technologies and made from soybean based polyols. SYNLawn, the landscape division of AstroTurf, also features soy-based backing in its landscape turf products.

“My administration is committed to using every tool available to promote economic growth and create good jobs in rural America,” said President Obama. “Today’s announcements reflect our continued focus on expanding opportunity for rural Americans and all Americans, including supporting new and innovative businesses, and improving rural health care and education. And the actions we’re taking today are possible thanks to the feedback and ideas I’ve received from hardworking Americans across rural America, including the participants at the White House Rural Economic Forum.”

For AstroTurf and SYNLawn, the decision opens the doors for synthetic turf sports and landscape applications at federal government facilities throughout the country, including military installations.

AstroTurf has worked closely with soybean farmers throughout the country in creating awareness of its synthetic turf products. In 2011, AstroTurf installed the new football field at Kansas State University, where AstroTurf President Bryan Peeples and Kansas Soybean Commission Chairman Bob Haselwood were presented with a game ball and 5,000 fans received samples of the soy-backed AstroTurf.

“This is a monumental decision,” said Peeples. “AstroTurf and SYNLawn are on the cutting edge when it comes to the sustainability movement, and biobased manufacturing has become a huge part of our corporate culture. We are providing the best synthetic turf products available, all while reducing our dependence on foreign oil and helping to create American jobs.”

The Presidential Memo builds on the Congressional support for biobased products established in the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills. Key provisions in the new memorandum include:

• Requiring federal agencies to include goals and milestones for biobased purchasing in their Strategic Sustainability Performance Plans.
• Including biobased purchasing in the scorecard that the Office of Management and Budget uses to rate agencies’ Sustainability/Energy performance.
• Directing a 50 percent increase in the number of new product categories that are designated by USDA as biobased for preferred federal purchasing.
• Requiring new public reporting of federal agencies’ biobased product purchasing.
• Requiring federal agencies to sample and verify that biobased products are being included in purchasing contracts, identified in purchasing catalogs, and integrated in product specifications and contracting procedures.
• Directing the implementation of new biobased purchasing training, education, and outreach efforts to federal buyers.
• Providing assistance to small businesses to improve the selling of biobased products and services to the Federal Government.
• Directing the Secretary of Agriculture to prepare a report to the President on job creation and the economic impact associated with the biobased products industry.

“We know that when biobased products are used, it’s going to create new manufacturing opportunities in rural areas and we also know that it’s going to reduce our reliance on foreign oil,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

The federal biobased initiative is also an important model for state and other governments, such as Ohio, that passed legislation that requires state agencies to buy biobased products that are designated through the federal biobased program. Counties across the nation have started using biobased products as well.

Biobased product manufacturers and allied organizations launched the Biobased Products Coalition, of which AstroTurf is a member, in 2007 to focus and coordinate industry efforts to improve the federal biobased program and promote other favorable federal policies. The BPC provides a forum for biobased manufacturers of all sizes as well as farmer and other trade associations to present a unified industry voice on federal policy.

Greening of Georgia Street: wishtv.com

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – It’s similar to the material you see on a football field. Now, the artificial grass is making its way to Georgia Street in Downtown Indianapolis.

It‘s all part of the push to spruce up the area in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl.

Hundreds of thousands are expected to pack Georgia Street Super Bowl weekend and the days before.

Saturday, a small crew form SYNLawn spent the majority of the day installing artificial grass.

SYNLawn — the company the city contracted to install the grass — donated nearly $14,000 worth of material to help spruce up the city.

The company’s owner, Phil Phillips said, “We saw that we might be able to do something and be apart of it and the whole family went for that very quickly.”

Jan Pritchard and her husband, Ron, spent the day checking out the recent changes.

“We wanted to walk and see what it is going to look like before the Super Bowl,” Jan Pritchard said. Her husband added they wanted to beat the big crowd leading up to game day.

Meanwhile, Super Bowl week warming stations will line Georgia Street. There will also be a host of activities for you and the family.

To see the entire story online, please visit this location.

Thank you to Dakota and her owner for sharing these adorable videos!

When Harlem Success Academy Charter School received federal funding for a playground makeover, they chose SYNLawn to provide a multi-purpose athletic field as a central focus. This field was able to enhance the elementary athletic program in addition to directly supporting Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” Program.

The team at Peter Gluck and Partners chose SYNLawn’s SYNPlay to construct the field. The SYNPlay solution offers a 100% nylon artificial grass product with an 8mm foam pad that provides a great playing field that absorbs shock and protects from injuries. Although the team’s motive for choosing SYNPlay was solution-based for the school, this also contributed to a larger scale initiative.

A new and unique partnership has been formed between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, AstroTurf, SYNLawn, Universal Textile Technologies (UTT), and the United Soybean Board (USB). UTT is now purchasing the Class 1 recyclable plastic bottles from Yellowstone’s waste stream and will convert them into a non-woven fleece material used to manufacture high performance backing for certain AstroTurf and SYNLawn synthetic turf products, SYNPLay being one. This partnership creates and protects jobs for the American work force, helps the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks meet recycling goals, and provides AstroTurf and SYNLawn with products made better through recycling and reuse efforts, and helps to lower the environmental impact of discarded plastic bottles. According to the EPA, recycling one ton of plastic drinking bottles saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space. Additionally, 12,000 BTUs are saved for every pound recycled.

The true success of this program is that it has solved many of the issues the school has dealt with in the past. The students can now enjoy the advantage of playing outside immediately after it rains without grass stains, mud stains or allergenic concerns, while the school administration will be taking advantage of lower maintenance costs, which results in greater savings for the school. The beautification to the corner of 127th and Lexington just stepped into the 21st century with SYNLawn’s help and the community is sharing in the excitement on many levels. Kids, parents and taxpayers alike could be heard cheering on the SYNLawn team for a job well done.

About Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” Program

Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Combining comprehensive strategies with common sense, “Let’s Move!” is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years. Giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices. Providing healthier foods in our schools. Ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food. And, helping kids become more physically active.

Everyone has a role to play in reducing childhood obesity, including parents, elected officials from all levels of government, schools, health care professionals, faith-based and community-based organizations, and private sector companies. Your involvement is key to ensuring a healthy future for our children.

For more information about the “Let’s Move!” Program, visit www.letsmove.gov

Birmingham, AL — Reagan the Boxer and Labradors Kanan and Emma were in doggy heaven on Monday. The dogs galloped around the 6,000-square-foot dog park outside We Talk Dog, a new dog training/grooming and kennel facility at 1555 Cooper Hill Road in Birmingham’s Eastwood area. When they weren’t chasing each other in the bright sunlight, the dogs wrestled or playfully fought over the many toys strewn over the park or chased a plastic ball thrown by Adam Summerford, owner of Kanan and Emma.

Meanwhile, inside the facility, Chico the Chihuahua scampered around an inside playing area for smaller dogs, as owner Kalyn Trichell, a dog trainer at We Talk Dog, looked on. Summerford and Trichell, who have together trained about 1,000 dogs since Summerford formed Talk Dog Training & Coaching in 2008 in partnership with Caldwell Mill Animal Clinic, say they are taking their in-home training business to the next level with the opening of We Talk Dog in late November.

Summerford bought the former warehouse, which previously housed an ambulance service, earlier this year and has spent the last several months doing most of the work converting it into the We Talk Dog facility himself. He gutted the building, adding a station for dog baths and grooming and separate indoor play area/training sections for big dogs and small dogs. He is still building a kennel area that has standard kennels and 21 custom-built “luxury suites” for small and large dogs. He expects it to be finished in about two weeks.

Besides the big dog park, which will be used for outside play and training for bigger dogs, Summerford is building a separate 2,000-square-foot dog park for smaller dogs. Both dog parks are covered with SYNLawn artificial turf Summerford calls “doggy turf,” specifically designed for dogs, with drainage systems installed underneath for sanitation purposes.

Summerford wouldn’t say how much he has invested in We Talk Dog. A former engineer with B.L. Harbert International, he put his dogs’ paw prints in the concrete floor while it dried. The facility will be equipped with video cameras, allowing pet owners to check at WeTalkDog.com to see how their pets are doing. His website will also have live-stream videos of dog training taking place in the outside dog parks.

“I wanted to create a trainer-designed, dog-secure, stress-free, professionally supervised environment for dogs that would provide all the needs of a dog — training, grooming, boarding, day care and vet access,” Summerford said.

The facility is located next to Hoke Animal Clinic, providing a place within walking distance for pets that need veterinarian care, he said. Boarding services will average $20 a day and the costs of other services will vary and be placed on his company’s website soon. He said We Talk Dog will have someone on staff with the dogs 24 hours a day.

“Because dog training is so fluid and dynamic, I continue to learn, study and try new techniques every day,” he said. “What works for one dog may not work for another. What motivates each individual dog and each individual dog owner can be completely different.”

Summerford said We Talk Dog’s dog parks are also different from traditional dog parks in that professional dog trainers will supervise the animals at play, and make sure the dogs are socially adaptable.

“It won’t be like at other dog parks where dogs that aren’t used to one another fight,” he said. “Our trainers will monitor the dogs closely.”

Dog training can be expensive. We Talk Dog’s website has packages ranging from $550 to $1,650, and will soon add group sessions. Summerford said that owners can take a Pooch Personality Quiz to find out how to get training tailored to their pet’s needs.

Darin White, an associate professor of marketing at Samford University’s Brock School of Business, said a one-stop dog training/grooming and kennel facility with an outside dog park should fit well in metro Birmingham, which he called a big dog-lovers town. Citing figures from the American Pet Products Association, he said dogs account for about two thirds of the nation’s 46 million American pet-owning households. Americans spent $50 million on pets this year, up from $45 million two years ago, and that rose even during the recession, White says.

“People treat their dogs like a member of their family and are willing to spend lots of money to make sure they are well taken care of,” said White, who previously bred Shetland sheep dogs. Summerford, who has a business administration degree from Charleston Southern University and has been a dog owner since childhood, said he found his calling after learning the craft from a professional trainer.

“As a dog lover, I consider myself fortunate to be able to follow my passion for dogs and to have developed a program and a built a facility I believe in,” he said. His biggest challenge, Summerford said, is to let dog owners know that We Talk Dog offers an alternative to leaving a dog locked up in the home all day alone or in the back yard, or boarding their dog at the local vet. “Our facility provides leadership, structure, and socialization,” Summerford said. “Owners can relax while they are away knowing their dogs are stress-free.”

View the full story at this location.

Dalton, GA — SYNLawn, the world leader in residential and landscape synthetic turf is now just a little bit greener thanks to a new initiative with one America’s greatest national parks.

Universal Textile Technologies (UTT), today announced a new initiative to include bottles collected from Grand Teton National Park into its manufacturing process. UTT converts the plastic bottles into a non-woven fleece material used to manufacture high-performance environmentally friendly backing for carpet and synthetic turf products. Now termed the PET Park Project, UTT is working in partnership with The Grand Teton National Park, Teton County Solid Waste and Recycling, CPE, Inc., and the United Soybean Board (USB).

“As the provider of the world’s best synthetic turf for residential and landscape applications, we are excited about this project with a national park which boasts some of the most beautiful areas in the world,” said George Neagle, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for SYNLawn.

Americans generate an enormous amount of waste material every day. In the Grand Teton National Park, millions of visitors are educated on the positive aspects of recycling, including plastic bottles. This new partnership, called the PET Park Project, promotes the reuse of discarded plastic bottles, significantly reduces the amount of bottles that go to the landfill, and helps the park meet their recycling goals.

UTT then incorporates the use of recycled bottles to manufacture BioCel^™ and EnviroCel^™, environmentally-friendly, performance-based polyurethane backing systems for carpet and synthetic turf. Both BioCel and EnviroCel utilize recycled plastic bottles, combined with naturally renewable soybean-based polyols derived from domestically grown soybeans. UTT is a leader in the use of soy to reduce the petroleum content in its backing. The use of soy-based products and recycled plastics converted stateside help to support the U.S. economy and create American jobs. UTT is a charter member of the Biobased Products Coalition, the Carpet and Rug Institute, Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), and is NSF 140 Certified.

Many of the recyclable plastics collected in America are sold overseas, where they are used to produce plastic products that are later sold in the U.S. This partnership will help produce American jobs by allowing American workers to convert the bottles and decrease the carbon footprint required in transportation overseas.

“Grand Teton National Park has proven its commitment to promoting beneficial environmental stewardship practices, and the PET Park Project is an excellent example of how private companies can work with the National Park Service to find innovative recycling solutions that benefit all of us,” Margaret Wilson, Grand Teton National Park’s Planner & Sustainability Coordinator.

The partnership represents a model system that can help increase the demand for recycled content in American-made products. With the help of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, Americans are now able to purchase carpets featuring recycled content from the parks, and includes American-grown, soy-based technology that displaces a large portion of the petroleum components.

These exciting, environmentally-friendly backing technologies assist in LEED® certification. BioCel and EnviroCel are resistant to moisture, insulate against energy loss, reduce ambient noise, and increase the structural integrity of carpet and synthetic turf.

“On average, two bottles out of 10 are recycled in America today, and our objective is to increase this number. We hope the PET Park Project will increase awareness of the many opportunities for Americans to participate,” said Doug Giles, director of marketing for Universal Textile Technologies. “We are excited to be a part of this project and look forward to continuing our partnership with the National Park Service.”

About SYNLawn:

SYNLawn^® is the industry innovator on synthetic grass. Their lush and livable synthetic grass systems have transformed the way synthetic grass is used, producing the most advanced and performance oriented putting surfaces and synthetic landscaping solutions in the market. SYNLawn^® uses exclusive nylon technologies to produce unmatched solutions for synthetic landscape, golf, pet and playground systems. SYNLawn^®‘s grass products are 100% recyclable and lead compliant. As a true vertically integrated manufacturer/installer in the business, SYNLawn^® delivers customers the highest quality artificial grass products at a competitive price with the most genuine industry warranty. With the company’s rapid expansion, SYNLawn^® has 35 locations now open in the United States and Canada. To learn more visit www.SYNLawn.com.

Portland, OR — SYNLawn was proud to take part in one of the very first remodeled homes to receive the prestigious Earth Advantage classification. Portland Development Group Realtors took extensive measures to meet the high standards of an Earth Advantage Certified home.

They incorporated solar panels, increased insulation, low energy lamps, instant hot water just to name a few.

Owners of the company Barry Smith and Mike Hubbell took their search for (green) solutions to the landscape as well and contacted SYNLawn. Bary stating, “We want to make every effort to be environmentally responsible.”

By utilizing SYNLawn in this project, the future home owner will have a low maintenance landscape perfect for kids and pets. This will also reduce the amount of water consumption used for landscaping by 50 percent. Way to think “Outside the House”!

Go to HollywoodCraftsman.com for more information and a tour.

(CHICAGO, Illinois) — Winter is fast approaching, but the Oasis on the roof at Lakeshore Sports & Fitness will always be green.

Did you say, “the roof”?

Following renovations, the Oasis now offers a rooftop experience that is as lush and green as any landscape project.

In fact, recently the club has undergone a series of renovations to enable them to offer members the area’s number one destination for sports and fitness. In addition to providing the latest in equipment, information technology, and other amenities, the club’s newest addition is The Oasis, which has transformed the club’s rooftop.

“We’re very proud of what we offer our members,” said Peter Goldman, owner of the club. “In addition to competing, working out and getting fit, our members like to socialize and have a good time. The Oasis provides a breathtaking and inviting area to engage in all the club has to offer.”

Lakeshore Sports & Fitness has been a part of the community for over 40 years and offers over 185,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space for its members. The facilities include workout facilities, tennis courts, swimming pools, an indoor track, basketball and volleyball courts, and more.

The Oasis is a 20,000 square foot area on the roof which provides a magnificent panoramic view of the Chicago skyline. It offers a restaurant area, outdoor fitness areas, as well as kid- and adult-only zones.

In a commitment to being green, all design elements of The Oasis feature environmentally-friendly construction materials. Even the plates and utensils in the restaurant area are made from recycled content or plant materials.

That’s not the only thing that’s green. The Oasis features a 10,000 square foot area made up of synthetic grass from SYNLAWN^®, the world’s leader manufacturer of synthetic turf for landscape use. The SYNLawn surface is designed to resemble natural rye grass.

“This was a tremendous project,” said Mike Maschmeyer, owner of Chicago RoofDeck & Garden, which designed and built The Oasis. “The SYNLawn synthetic grass is what really set this project apart, from an aesthetics and environmental standpoint.”

SYNLawn products are the most environmentally friendly on the market. SYNLawn turf products save millions of gallons of water each year, keep fertilizers and pesticides away from pets and out of the ground water supply, and reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption from lawn equipment.

SYNLawn products have replaced petroleum-based polyurethane with soybean oils in the manufacturing process and are 100% recyclable.

“Nothing says green like SYNLawn,” said George Neagle, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “It not only helps to create a fresh and usable space like the one Chicago RoofDeck & Garden constructed for Lakeshore Sports & Fitness, it shows a commitment toward being a good steward of the environment.”

It also provides a nice complement to the physical fitness lifestyle and how Lakeshore Sports & Fitness have created the opportunities for its members to participate in that lifestyle and find respite at The Oasis.

About SYNLawn:

SYNLawn^® is the industry innovator on synthetic grass. Their lush and livable synthetic grass systems have transformed the way synthetic grass is used, producing the most advanced and performance oriented putting surfaces and synthetic landscaping solutions in the market. SYNLawn^® uses exclusive nylon technologies to produce unmatched solutions for synthetic landscape, golf, pet and playground systems. SYNLawn^®‘s grass products are 100% recyclable and lead compliant. As a true vertically integrated manufacturer/installer in the business, SYNLawn^® delivers customers the highest quality artificial grass products at a competitive price with the most genuine industry warranty. With the company’s rapid expansion, SYNLawn^® has 35 locations now open in the United States and Canada. To learn more visit www.SYNLawn.com.

Animated Golf Productions, LLC Joins Giancarlo Esposito and Steven Michael Quezada from the Emmy-Award Winning, ‘Breaking Bad’ and Deep Roy from ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ to Celebrate the Launch of ‘ClubHeads – Let’s Learn the Golf Swing’ and Benefit for The First Tee, Mountain Region

Albuquerque, NM — Animated Golf Productions, LLC today announced the launch celebration of ‘ClubHeads – Let’s Learn the Golf Swing’ on November 3, 2011. This event will introduce the product and the company mission to the regional market and business community through a fun, star-studded celebration. Celebrity attendees will include Giancarlo Esposito and Steven Michael Quezada from ‘Breaking Bad’ and Deep Roy from ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’ Quezada will also showcase his stand-up routine to those attending.

“I am thrilled with the local support and celebrity turnout that we will have for the upcoming launch celebration.” said Animated Golf Productions, LLC Owner and ClubHeads Creator, Racquel Huslig. “Not only will this event further the ClubHeads Golf mission to support a healthy lifestyle for kids, but it will also benefit the mountain region chapter of The First Tee, one of my favorite youth development programs surrounding the game of golf.”

Guests will have the chance to win a Dave Pelz GreenMaker Putting Green System from SYNLawn by donating $5 to The First Tee.

Each donation will earn them one chance to win, and there is no limit to the number of donations. The putting green is valued at more than $1,200.

The First Tee is a national, youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf, is supported by golf’s major organizations. To make a donation, visit THIS LOCATION.

This event will further the ClubHeads Golf mission to support a healthy lifestyle for kids.

About Animated Golf Productions, LLC

With a mission to “Make a Game of Golf”, ClubHeads is the first product line to be released by Animated Golf Productions, LLC. ClubHeads was developed to encourage involvement and enjoyment of the golf game by providing children with a high-quality, animated, character-based instructional video that is unique, engaging, and educational leading to healthy lifestyle habits and skill growth at an affordable price. ‘ClubHeads – Let’s Learn the Golf Swing’ is a full-length, 25 minute video now available at http://www.clubheadsgolf.com.

Created by 20-year PGA and LPGA Golf Professional, Racquel Huslig, Animated Golf Productions, LLC provides opportunities for children to discover the game of golf and to enhance the skills of its users through a unique approach to golf instruction. Animated Golf Productions, LLC is headquartered in Albuquerque, NM.

For more information, please contact the Animated Golf Productions Media Line

1-855-440-GOLF (4653)/pr(at)clubheadsgolf(dot)com

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