TWO SM GRANTS THIS SPRING:

PEPCO AND DELMARVA POWER (NEW!)

The Sustainable Maryland program is announcing two grant opportunities this spring:

Pepco Sustainable Communities Grants

SM is now in our 4th year of managing these grants. Municipalities and non-profits in the Pepco service area (Montgomery County, Prince George's County and Washington, DC) are eligible to receive $125,000 in funding for Environmental Stewardship and Community Resilience projects. Application deadline is July 16.

Click here for the Request for Proposal and to register for the overview webinar on May 7.

Delmarva Power Sustainable Communities-NEW! SM is pleased to announce that we will now also be administering these established grants for Exelon. Municipalities and non-profits in the Delmarva Power service area (parts of Maryland's Eastern Shore and Cecil and Harford Counties, and the state of Delaware) are eligible to receive $35,000 in funding for Environmental Stewardship and Community Resilience projects. Application deadline is July 16.

Click here for the Request for Proposal and to register for the informational webinar on May 14.

For more information about SM grants contact SMGrants@umd.edu

US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE

FY25 COASTAL PROGRAM

The State of Maryland's Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) continues to assist Maryland municipalities in understanding the eligibility for various federal grants.

The USFWS Coastal Program funds projects to protect and conserve coastal habitats on private and public lands.

Click here for the Award Summary prepared by the MTAP team on the Coastal program. This document provides a high-level summary of the program, and the awards administered during previous funding cycles, including data on past winners.

The application deadline to be considered for FY25 is May 30, 2025. Applications will be accepted afterwards on a rolling basis until September 30, 2025 which will be considered for the following fiscal year

If your municipality has further questions on the program, please contact MTAP at arpa.neuadmin@maryland.gov or submit a question to the MTAP Question Portal.

NEW SM SPONSOR: SOLAR LANDSCAPE - THE SAVINGS OF SOLAR WITHOUT THE PANELS

Solar Landscape is the leading U.S. community and commercial rooftop solar developer, partnering with building owners to develop, install, and operate solar projects. Recently, the company energized 14 new community solar projects across Maryland, for a total capacity of 6.6 megawatts (MW), which is fed directly into the state’s power grid.

The new installations are the first of Solar Landscape’s 57 rooftop community solar projects in Maryland, the largest such portfolio in the state. Once energized, the projects will generate savings through solar credits for nearly 6,000 homes in BGE and PepCo utility areas.

The state’s community solar program allows Maryland residents to enroll in the benefits of clean, solar energy remotely without installing panels on their own roof. The program is designed so that everyone can access the benefits of solar energy, whether you rent or own your home. Instead of placing solar panels on your roof, you subscribe to a share of a large local solar project. With community solar, you receive solar credits on your electricity bills, reducing what you owe for electricity.

Because Solar Landscape develops solar projects exclusively on commercial rooftops, these installations preserve Maryland’s precious open and agricultural spaces.

The Solar Landscape Community Engagement team partners with municipalities, community-based organizations, non-profits and affordable housing providers to support education and outreach on the opportunity to enroll to local projects and benefit from the energy cost savings. They can also support participating Sustainable Maryland municipalities earn points towards the Renewable Energy Action with a focus on community solar.

To learn more or partner with Solar Landscape, contact Jennifer Schneider, Director of Municipal Engagement at jschneider@solarlandscape.com or 732-333-8573. You can also visit www.solarlandscape.com.

MUNICIPALITIES ELIGIBLE FOR COMPOSTING CONSORTIUM GRANTS

The Composting Consortium, managed by Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy, is launching a grant program in collaboration with the US Composting Council (USCC) and the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) to help composters and municipalities expand their ability to process certified compostable packaging and food scraps. Eligible U.S. compost manufacturers and municipalities are invited to apply for funding to support on-site improvements, public education and market development that allow for the inclusion of these materials.

The Consortium’s grants aim to support financing for crucial upgrades that enable the processing of certified compostable food packaging and food scraps, which reduces packaging and food waste in landfills and supports a circular economy for organics. Funding can be used by composters and municipalities in various ways, such as offsetting the costs of installing new equipment to address contamination from conventional plastics, conducting trials for the inclusion of compostable packaging, or updating signage, stickers and other marketing and outreach materials that clearly communicate the acceptance of certified compostable packaging to help improve participation and reduce contamination.

Grant applications are now open, with a submission deadline of June 13th, 2025. All funded projects must be completed by March 1, 2026. For more information on the grant program, including eligibility criteria for composters and municipalities and application details, please visit https://www.closedlooppartners.com/the-center/composting-grant-program/.

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.

Check out the 2024 SM Annual Report, with info about certifications, grants and events.