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NOVEMBER 2024

Your monthly SM news & updates

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FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Community-led Heat Island Mapping grants (NOAA)

(deadline Jan. 17)

More info


MD 250 Grants (celebrating America's 250th)

More Info


Bloomberg Asphalt Art Grants

(deadline Jan. 31)

More info


Maryland State Arts Council - Organization Grants (includes municipalities)

More info


Maryland Bikeways Grants

More info


Climate Catalytic Capital (C3) Fund

More Info


Project Restore - DHCD

More Info


Prince George's County Stormwater Stewardship

More info


Clean Water Montgomery Grants

More info


Rockville RainScapes

More info


Prince George's County Community Gardens Mini-Grants

More info

Deadline: Rolling


Montgomery County Green Bank

More info


Montgomery County Energy Efficiency Program

More info


Prince George's County Sustainable Energy

More info


Prince George's County Green Energy Loan

More info


Maryland Urban & Community Forestry Grants

(Maryland DNR)

Deadline: semi-annual

More info


Urban Trees Mini-Grant -Chesapeake Bay Trust Deadline: Rolling

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 Rain Check Rebate -Chesapeake Bay Trust

Deadline: Rolling

More info

EVENTS

Takoma Park Green Business Info Session

Date: Dec. 3

Location: Zoom

Info



EPA Creating Resilient Water Utilities Webinar Series

Dates: Dec. 3, 5, 10, 12

Info


Gaithersburg HOA Green Team Summit

Location: Zoom

Date: Jan. 30, 6:30-7:30pm

Details/registration coming soon


Delaware Estuary Science and Environmental Summit 2025

Dates: Feb. 11-12

Location: Wilmington, DE

Info


Mobilize Frederick Climate Summit

Date: Feb. 28-March 1

Location: Hood College, Frederick

Info


NACTO Designing Cities Conference

Location: Wash., DC

Dates: May 28-31

Info

SM COMMUNITIES IN THE NEWS

Brunswick recognized for sustainability efforts

More


Berlin retains Sustainable Maryland Certified honor

More


QUOTE OF THE MONTH


“The historian must retell, with a new richness, the story of what some one of the worlds of the past was, how it ceased to be what it was, how it faded and blended into new configurations, how at every stage what was, was the product of what had been and developed into what no one could have anticipated. All of this to help us understand how we came to be the way we are and to extend the poor reach of our own immediate experience.”


Bernard Bailyn, presidential address at the American Historical Association annual meeting


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SM WELCOMES TWO NEW TOWNS: HIGHLAND BEACH AND UNION BRIDGE

SM welcomes two new towns to the program this fall: Highland Beach and Union Bridge:

The Town of Highland Beach (Anne Arundel County) was founded in the late 1800s by affluent African Americans from Washinton, DC as a summer retreat on the Chesapeake Bay. When incorporated in 1922, it became the first African American municipality in Maryland. Although founded as a summer resort, it now has approximately 120 year round residents within its half square mile of land, many of them descendants of the original settlers. It is home to the Frederick Douglas Museum and Cultural Center.

The Town of Union Bridge (Carroll County), located in the heart of the Piedmont Plateau, has a population of 936 within its one square mile. It features a National Register historic district, a walkable Main Street, and is home to the Maryland Midway Railway and the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum.

Welcome Highland Beach and Union Bridge to the Sustainable Maryland program. We look forward to assisting you with your sustainability projects and planning!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM RECENT

SM SUSTAINABILITY TOURS

SM hosted guided sustainability tours on four consecutive Thursdays in October. These are meant to provide elected officials, municipal staff, and Green Teams with practical assistance and inspiration for completing sustainability projects in their towns. Stay tuned for more of these tours in 2025.

Attendees of the Washington Grove tour along the trail through the Town's conservation area/native plant meadow

Checking out the public art in Bear Square at the Riverdale Park Station transit-oriented mixed-use development

Learning about the Pave Drain pervious paver system in Colmar Manor from Aaron Fisher of Ernest Maier, Inc.

Exploring the ecological restoration and diverse ecosystem of Circle Woods in Takoma Park


FOREST HEIGHTS: A SMALL TOWN THAT IS LEADING THE WAY IN SUSTAINABILITY

The Town of Forest Heights garnered their very first Sustainable Maryland certification this month. Mustang Mach-V electric police cars, solar panels at town hall, a community garden, and planting thousands of trees were among the Town's accomplishments. Watch the 3 minute WUSA9 news story profiling their efforts here.



MARYLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CLIMATE ACTION SUPPORT PROGRAM

Environmental Finance Center/Sustainable Maryland staff are now providing direct technical support to select counties and municipalities to help them access federal and state funding to address climate change. This assistance will be delivered at no cost to recipients, through an award from the Maryland Department of Environment. Available services include assistance identifying climate pollution reduction projects; developing plans; building technical, financial, and managerial capacity; and completing funding application materials. Assistance is available on a need basis to the following counties and municipalities located within the following counties: 


  • Western Maryland (Garrett, Allegany, Washington counties) 
  • Southern Maryland (Calvert, St. Mary’s counties)
  • Eastern Shore (Kent, Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester counties)

To request climate action technical assistance for your municipality, please complete this form or e-mail efc_climateaction@umd.edu.


For more information click here.



MEA FY25 BUILDING DECARBONIZATION PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS - DECEMBER 4, 5, 6


The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has launched the majority of its Fiscal Year 2025 grant and loan program offerings, many of which will help Marylanders reduce their buildings' energy use and direct emissions. Please join one or more virtual information sessions to learn about program eligibility, desired criteria, and an opportunity to ask program managers questions about what makes a good application. 


Dec. 4, 11:00am: Maryland Smart Energy Communities & SolarApp+ Implementation Grant Program


Dec. 5, 11:00am: Energy Efficiency Equity & Solar Energy Equity Grant Programs


Dec. 6, 11:00am: Commercial, Industrial, and Agricultural (CI&A) Grant Mechanical Insulation, & Jane E. Lawton Loan Programs



Click here for more information and to register.

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

Director

Sustainable Maryland