SM CERTIFICATION/RE-CERTIFICATION WEBINAR, APRIL 10

Join Sustainable MD staff on Wednesday, April 10 from 1:00 - 2:00pm for an overview of the 2024 Sustainable Maryland certification cycle and a review of the new certification tier.

For those municipalities that last became certified in 2021, we have had many new additions to our program and the certification process, including:

- A new Silver SM Certification Tier

- More than 20 new SM Actions

- New SM Action Categories: Historic Preservation and Transportation

So whether your municipality will be applying for certification for the very first time, or for re-certification this year, or you are looking for inspiration for new Actions or updating your Action Plan, please join us on April 10. See log in info below:

Zoom Information:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://umd.zoom.us/j/8277366137?pwd=dktudVpxTWtGVmR3UU1MdnFKNlRqUT09&omn=94809507698

Meeting ID: 827 736 6137

Passcode: 0BRu8m

One tap mobile

+13052241968,,8277366137# US

PORT TOWNS WALKABLE WATERSHED COMMUNITY MEETING, COLMAR MANOR, APRIL 23

SM CLIMATE WEBINARS THIS SPRING

Mark your calendars! SM will be hosting a virtual climate-related webinar every 4th Wednesday this spring. More information coming soon!

• April 24: Topic TBD – Register
• May 22: Topic TBD – Register
• June 26: Topic TBD – Register
• July 24: Topic TBD – Register

URBAN FORESTRY CAREERS CAMP

UMD-COLLEGE PARK, JULY 7-13

The Maryland Forestry Foundation is working with the University of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to launch an exciting new venture for high school students in the summer of 2024.

The Urban Forestry Careers Camp (UFCC) will emphasize urban forestry programs within Maryland's municipal and county governments. The goal of the camp is to expose students to the promising new sector of future "green career" opportunities within urban environments.

The one-week camp is scheduled to be held on the campus of the University of Maryland at College Park from July 7 - July 13, 2024.

The application process will be launched in mid-March and full detail of the camp will be made available at that time.

SMALL BUT MIGHTY: GLEN ECHO GREEN TEAM MOVING TOWARD

SM RE-CERTIFICATION

It was great to meet with the Glen Echo Green Team last month. The Town, with a population of 279, is currently the smallest SM-certified municipality. We discussed their 2021 certification report and how to update it for their 2024 re-certification application. The Town is hard at work on several new projects, including a new community garden with more than 25 plots on town-owned land, and an invasive species removal initiative to help preserve tree canopy, utilizing the skills of some residents who have trained as weed warriors. We look forward to seeing their application in June!

BIKE MARYLAND WEBINAR:

THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS' BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY PROGRAM /

SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND'S MUNICIPAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

APRIL 25, 7 - 8:30PM

Are you looking for ways to make your community a better and more welcoming place to bicycle? Join us to learn about two programs that can help.

Learn about the Bicycle Friendly Community Program through the League of American Bicyclists and how this program provides a roadmap, assistance, and recognition for communities to make bicycling a safe form of transportation and a fun recreational opportunity for all. 

Also learn about the bicycle-related action items under the Sustainable Maryland Certification Program. Sustainable Maryland Certified is designed to support Maryland's municipalities as they look for cost-effective and strategic ways to protect their natural assets and revitalize their communities, and recognizes leading municipalities that go green, save money, and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term.

Speakers:

Amelia Neptune, Bicycle Friendly America Director

League of American Bicyclists

Mike Hunninghake, Director

Sustainable Maryland

For more information and to register, click here.

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy invites you to attend this Sustainable Growth Workshop. As our region grapples with the ongoing housing crisis, transportation cuts, and the impacts of climate change this workshop aims to tackle these challenges and how they are interrelated. 

The workshop will include discussions on the intersection of housing and transportation, comprehensive plan and zoning updates, adaptation to climate and market forces, partnerships with state and local governments, and the barriers preventing our communities from growing sustainably and equitably.

Link to registration: https://www.eslc.org/sustainable-growth-eastern-shore/

Date: Tuesday, May 14^th

Time: 9 am to 3:30 pm

Venue: Zoom

This will be a virtual workshop with separate morning/ afternoon sessions with a break for lunch. Registration is free.

Speakers include:

• Rebecca Flora – Maryland Secretary of Planning
• Brad Rogers – Executive Director of South Baltimore Gateway Partnership
• Denis Superczynski – Principal Planner at Frederick County Government
• Phillip Walters – Project Manager & Senior Analyst at Urban3
• Will White – Former Salisbury Transportation Manager
• D'Shawn Doughty - Salisbury Council President / Development Manager Green Street Housing

*The full agenda will be released in the coming weeks.

This Workshop will also cover some of the new programs and resources from the State of Maryland, including the Community Health and Safety Works Grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development: https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Communities/Pages/csw/default.aspx

This grant provides funding for opportunities to improve the livability and economic potential of Maryland communities through targeted investments in the physical environment that impact health and safety.