November 2022

Your monthly SM news & updates
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES


Maryland Energy Administration Low-to-Moderate Income Energy Efficiency grants

(proposals due Dec. 1)

More info


Maryland Energy Administration OPEN Energy grants

(proposals due by March 15, 2023)

More info


Preservation Maryland Heritage Fund

(proposals due March 31)

More info


MEA Clean Fuels Technical Assistance Program

More info


MEA Public Solar Facility Grant

More info


Montgomery County Green Bank

More info


Montgomery County Energy Efficiency Program

More info


Prince George's County Sustainable Energy grants

More info


Prince George's County Green Energy Loan program

More info


Maryland Urban & Community Forestry Grants

(Maryland DNR)

Deadline: semi-annual

More info


Charles County Forestry Grant Program (Chesapeake Bay Trust)

Deadline: Rolling

More info


Community Engagement & Restoration Mini-grants (Chesapeake Bay Trust)

Deadline: Rolling

More info


Prince Georges County Raincheck Rebate (Chesapeake Bay Trust)

Deadline: Rolling

More info





EVENTS


Maryland's Recycling Development Workshop

Date: Dec. 6

Info



2023


MD Association of Counties Winter Conference

Dates: January 4-6

Location: Cambridge

Info


Annual MD Association of Environmental and Outdoor Educators Conference

Dates: February 3-5

Location: Ocean City

Info



Chesapeake Green Horticulture Symposium

Dates: Feb 16-17

Location: Linthicum Heights

Info


AMWA Water Policy Conference

Dates: March 6-8

Location: Washington, DC

Info


National Environmental Justice Conference

Dates: March 7-9

Location: Washington, DC

Info


National Bike Summit

Dates: March 26-29

Location: Washington DC and Online

Info


Earth Day

Date: April 22

Info


Maryland Municipal League Summer Conference

Dates: June 25-28

Location: Ocean City


Maryland Land Conservation Conference

Dates: Oct. 4-5

Location: Annapolis

Info

SM COMMUNITIES IN THE NEWS

Kickoff of Nine Ponds Project in Hyattsville

More


Maryland passes 2020 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goal

More


5 Million Trees for Climate Progress

More


EPA RECYCLING GRANTS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced two recycling grants for local governments. Maryland municipalities are encouraged to apply!



1- The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program is meant to:

  • Improve Markets for Recycling Commodities
  • Increase Collection and Improve Materials management Infrastructure
  • Reduce Contamination in the Recycled Markets Stream
  • Enhance Policies to Support Recycling
  • Standardize Measurement and Increase Data Collection 


2- The Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program is exactly what it sounds like. Public service announcements, what happens after the bin, toolkits, etc. 


As a reminder, please ensure that municipalities have an up-to-date login for SAM.gov. In April 2022, the federal government changed from the DUNS number to the Unique Entity ID. This is the login needed for application to the forthcoming Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.


If you would please reach out to your contacts and remind them they are eligible to apply, that the EPA expects the date to begin to apply may be end of November/early December, to have their plans developed and to ensure they have the updated login for application, that would be amazing. Learn more



SUSTAINABILITY ASSISTANCE FOR HOMEOWNERS AND CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY IN 2023

SM is recruiting homeowners and civic associations in Prince George's County to assist them in forming Green Teams and developing customized sustainability action plans for their communities. Check out the communities we have worked with over the last few years here.


Please contact mikeh75@umd.edu by Nov. 28 if your community would like to receive this technical assistance in 2023.



UMD STUDENT ASSISTANCE FOR MUNICIPAL CARBON FOOTPRINT

SM has an undergraduate student available for the spring semester who can provide assitance to a municipality that wishes to complete a Municipal Carbon Footprint, a greenhouse gas inventory of all of their electricity, natural gas,vehicle fuel and other energy inputs. This is an excellent way to access a baseline of a town's energy usage, and is also a Priority Action in the SM certification program.


Contact mikeh75@umd.edu if your town is interested in receiving this assistance in 2023.



OUR 2022-2023 SM PROGRAM ASSISTANTS

Anaya Truss-Williams



Anaya is pursuing a dual degree in economics and economic geography here at the University of Maryland. She is spending her last year gaining more meaningful experiences as a Sustainable Maryland project assistant, and is currently developing a central database of community actions over the years. Her pastimes include going to museums (she highly recommends the Biosphere in Montreal), traveling with her dog Francisco, and exploring her interest in the intersection of economics and geography.



Zoya Raja


Zoya is currently a sophomore in the Letters and Sciences program at the University of Maryland. Her plans for the future include being able to assist those in need and helping to create a better environment for ourselves in the future. Zoya is currently working on the 2022 SM Annual Report and cleaning up the SM database.



MARTY BIERBAUM,

FRIEND OF SM PROGRAM

July 13, 1945 – November 6, 2022

It is with sadness that we share the passing of a former colleague, Martin A. Bierbaum. Marty was a lawyer, planning scholar and smart growth advocate. Marty was connected to UMD's School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation in many ways for decades, including serving as former Associate Director of the National Center for Smart Growth (2008-2011). Marty introduced the School to the Sustainable Jersey program, the model on which EFC's Sustainable Maryland program was based, while he was director of the Municipal Land Use Center at the College of New Jersey immediately before joining NCSG. 



QUOTE


"We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.”


-United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, on opening day of the gathering of more than 100 princes, presidents, and prime ministers of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations climate convention, known as COP27


Sustainable Maryland is an initiative of the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland. It is a free and voluntary program designed to help Maryland communities choose a direction for their sustainability efforts, improve access to resources needed to implement action, and recognize their accomplishments. Our sponsors include the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Maryland Municipal League. Sustainable Maryland is a proud founding member of the national Sustainable States Network.


For more information about how your municipality can register in the Sustainable Maryland program, plus customized Green Team training and access to student resources that are available to provide consultancy services for municipal planning, please contact 301-405-7956 or mikeh75@umd.edu


Mike Hunninghake

Program Manager 

Sustainable Maryland


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