Congrats to the 2020 SM Certified Municipalities! /
Thriving Earth Exchange- Community Science Fellows for Your Municipality /
FREE Technical Assistance for Municipalities to Create an Online Sustainability Resources Center
Our monthly sampling of news, resources, events and other items of interest from across the sustainability spectrum in Maryland.
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FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES
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Keep Maryland Beautiful grants
Deadline: Nov. 12
More info
Reopen Montgomery County - Grants for Small Businesses
More info
Montgomery County Watershed Restoration & Outreach Grant
(Chesapeake Bay Trust)
Deadline: Nov. 12
More info
Prince George's County Stormwater Stewardship Grant
(Chesapeake Bay Trust)
Deadline: Nov. 19
More info
Public Art Across America Grants
Deadlines:
Feb. 12, 2021; May 12, 2021
More Info
Montgomery County Green Bank
More info
Montgomery County Energy Efficiency Program
More info
Prince George's County Sustainable Energy grants
More infoPrince George's County Green Energy Loan programMore info
Maryland Urban & Community Forestry Grants(Maryland DNR)Deadline: semi-annual More infoCharles County Forestry Grant Program (Chesapeake Bay Trust)Deadline: Rolling More infoCommunity Engagement & Restoration Mini-grants (Chesapeake Bay Trust)Deadline: Rolling More info
Prince Georges County Raincheck Rebate (Chesapeake Bay Trust)
Deadline: Rolling More info
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WEBINAR AND EVENT CALENDAR
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***Please contact event organizers to ensure the program has not been canceled or postponed***
Local Stories: Short Films from the DC Environmental Film Festival
Info
Virtual: Maryland Clean Energy Summit Date: October 20 Location: College Park
Virtual: Chesapeake Watershed Forum Dates: Oct. 29-30
Virtual: APA Delaware Fall Conference Dates: Oct. 29-30
Looking Ahead 2021
MAEOE Annual Conference: Climate, Nature, People & Education- It's All Connected! Location: Baltimore
Dates: February 4-7
Maryland Ornithological Society Dates: May 14-16
Location: Cumberland
Virtual - MD Association of Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Dates: June 17-18
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IN THE NEWS
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Maryland becomes the first state to ban foam food containers
Some in Westminster abuzz about proposal to become a "Bee City"
Read more
New portion of trolley trail open in College Park near edible garden
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2020 CLASS OF SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND CERTIFIED MUNICIPALITIES!
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Sustainable Maryland is pleased to announce the 2020 class of Sustainable Maryland Certified municipalities. For many of these communities, this is the third time they have become certified since the program's inception in 2011. We look forward to another strong class in 2021, when the program will celebrate its 10th anniversary.
You can watch the brief virtual SM Awards Ceremony here.
This year's certified municipalities include (click the town link to view their certification report):
- Bel Air (first certified in 2014, re-certified in 2017)
- Boonsboro (first certified in 2014, re-certified in 2017)
- Greenbelt (2020 SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPION with the highest point total this year - first certified in 2014, re-certified in 2017)
- Takoma Park (first certified 2014, re-certified in 2017)
Contact us if your municipality would like to begin its journey towards joining the ranks of Sustainable Maryland Certified.
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TAP INTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR MD MUNICIPALITIES VIA THE THRIVING EARTH EXCHANGE - DEADLINE NOV. 6
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AGU's Thriving Earth Exchange is currently accepting applications from community leaders from all over the country to join our January 2021 project cohort in collaboration with the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC). Communities selected for this cohort will work directly with a Community Science Fellows and scientists to co-design a local project related to sustainability, environmental health and climate issues. Communities, Fellows, and scientists will collaborate on community outreach and engagement activities. Apply by 6 November 2020!
Otherwise, if you're interested but not sure where to start, let's talk! Call us at 202.777.7304 or email [email protected]
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FREE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH CREATING AN ONLINE SUSTAINABILITY RESOURCE CENTER FOR YOUR TOWN
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Sustainable Maryland will be offering assistance from UMD students to help a limited number of towns with populations of less than 15,000 people to Create an Online Sustainability Resource Center, a web-based compendium of local, county, regional and non-profit sustainability resources for your residents. This is also an excellent tool for communicating with residents about local sustainability projects, programs, incentives, and reports, and is worth 5 points on a municipality's Sustainable Maryland certification application. Here are are some examples from Landover Hills and Barnesville. Please contact [email protected] or 301-405-7956 if your town is interested in receiving this free technical assistance. First come, first served!
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KEEP MARYLAND BEAUTIFUL GRANTS - DEADLINE NOV.12
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 Keep Maryland Beautiful, an initiative of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, works in three key areas to expand funding opportunities and technical assistance to local governments, nonprofits, and community groups. This year's grant deadline is November 12.
- Clean Up & Green Up Maryland: Provide funding, equipment, and resources to communities and volunteer groups to eliminate litter and implement beautification and greening initiatives. Funding for communities, nonprofits, schools and land trusts is available through the Maryland Environmental Trust's Keep Maryland Beautiful grants. See more information and application.
- Workforce Development: Provide "on-the job" training that will give program participants the skills needed to make them better candidates for employment opportunities with the private-sector landscape, construction and waste management industries.
- Outreach, Education, and Technical Assistance: Provide local governments and community nonprofits the tools that teach the fundamentals of litter prevention; preserving our resources; responsible solid waste management; and how to reduce, reuse and recycle.
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QUOTE
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"The Earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet, or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve. People can achieve great things. The next ten years present us with one of our greatest tests - a decade of action to repair the Earth."
- Prince William, announcing the Earthshot Prize, designed to incentivize change and help to repair our planet over the next ten years.
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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. 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 [email protected]
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Mike Hunninghake
Program Manager
 
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