SM CERTIFICATION/RE-CERTIFICATION WEBINAR, APRIL 2

Join Sustainable MD staff on Wednesday, April 2 from 1:00 - 2:00pm for an overview of the 2025 Sustainable Maryland certification cycle and a review of new aspects of the application process.

Municipalities that were last certified in 2022 are due for re-certification this year. Municipalities that are seeking certification for the first time are strongly encouraged to attend!

SM certification applications are due June 30, 2025.

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 2.

Register here

SM SPRING VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR, APRIL 25

Join the SM Team for one of our quarterly virtual Happy Hours this year. Share what's inspiring you, or perhaps confounding you; learn about upcoming SM and other events and opportunities; and get feedback from a supportive group of your peers.

All are welcome - Green Team members, local elected officials, government staff, state and nonprofit representatives, and engaged citizens. Register below for a specific happy hour and to receive a zoom link:

Spring – Friday, April 25, 4:00pm, register

Summer – Friday, June 20, 4:00pm, register

Fall – Friday, October 3, 4:00pm, register



Winter – Friday, December 5, 4:00pm, register

We hope to see you there!

URBAN FORESTRY CAREERS CAMP AT UMD, JULY 13-19

Explore your future career in the exciting and growing field of Urban Forestry. Come spend a week on Maryland's flagship campus in College Park and experience hands-on learning with industry professionals and experts in many forestry-related fields.



Be one of 40 high school students selected to spend a week at the University of Maryland with other like-minded students from across the state.

The one-week camp will be held from July 13-19. For more information and application form, click here.

SCALE UP: SMALL COMMUNITIES ADVANCING LOCAL GOVERNMENT

USDN and ICMA have organized a small communities cohort program called SCALE Up that will provide training for local government participants to build their capacity to advance environmental health, energy affordability, and emergency preparedness priorities in their communities. Training will be rooted in understanding the landscape of project funding and financing mechanisms, supporting workforce development, developing enabling policy, and identifying actionable strategies and partnerships.

The goal is to set small local governments up for success to directly and indirectly leverage existing and future funding and financing opportunities. Learn more about SCALE UP.

Target Audience: 15-20 small to medium local governments (population <250,000). This will include local governments who are interested in diverse funding and financing mechanisms, but need additional support.

Format: This is a three-part program that kicks off May 2025. Each part will include three sessions (one/month) and monthly optional office hour sessions.

• Part One: Understanding Local Priorities and the Funding Menu for Local Governments (May 2025 -July 2025)
• Part Two: Developing a Project Implementation and Funding Roadmap (September 2025 -November 2025)
• Part Three: Creating an Enabling Landscape for Project Implementation (December 2025 -February 2026)

Apply: If your community meets the target audience and you are interested in participating in this cohort, please fill out this intake form by Wednesday, April 16 at 11:59pm PST

RESIDING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES:

A SUSTAINABLE GROWTH WORKSHOP FROM ESLC - APRIL 22

Join the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy for an insightful event: Residing in Rural Communities, on April 22, 9am-3pm, at Chesapeake College.

Discover how value-per-acre data can pave the way for innovative solutions to the growing housing crisis and shed light on the return on investment for land use for local governments. Guest Speaker: Edward Erfurt, Director of Community Action at Strong Towns

Lunch will be provided.

For more information and to register click here.