2024 PEPCO SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES GRANT AWARDEES

Earlier this month Pepco and Sustainable Maryland awarded ten Environmental Stewardship and Community Resiliency grants totaling $125,000 to the following municipalities and nonprofits at an event at Joe's Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier:

Environmental Stewardship

District of Columbia:

Friends of the National Arboretum: Improved visitor experience and education at the Washington Youth Garden on the grounds of the US National Arboretum - $10,000

Prince George’s County:

City of New Carrollton: West Field Storm Water Management - $10,000

Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek: Creating a sustainable community meadow in Cheverly - $10,000

World Arts Focus/Joe's Movement Emporium: GreenWorks - $10,000

Town of Colmar Manor: Dueling Creek Invasives Removal Project - $10,000

Montgomery County:

Town of Washington Grove: Restoration of a Meadow in the Washington Grove Conservation Park - $10,000

Community Resiliency

Prince George’s County:

The Gift Legacy Foundation Ltd: The Innovation Container, an Off-Grid Controlled Environmental Agriculture Education Classroom - $25,000

Town of Berwyn Heights: Initiative for Emergency Medical Equipment Access - $5,000

District of Columbia:

DowntownDC Foundation: "Green Charge: Solar-Powered Kiosks with Integrated Planters for Sustainable Park Infrastructure” – $25,000

Thank you to all of the nonprofits and municipalities in Prince George's County, Montgomery County, and Washington, DC that submitted applications!

NEW! SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND

SUSTAINABILITY ACTION GRANTS

Sustainable Maryland is pleased to introduce a brand new grant funding opportunity for SM-registered and certified municipalities!

Sustainable Maryland is pleased to announce the launch of the Sustainable Maryland Action Grants Program, established to further our mission of enhancing livability and sustainability across Maryland’s municipalities. This program supports a wide range of community-scale sustainability initiatives, offering a vital funding resource for Sustainable Maryland registered and certified municipalities.

The Sustainable Maryland Action Grants Program was made possible through the creation of the Sustainable Maryland Program Fund in 2022, which allocates a portion of the state’s annual budget to support local sustainability efforts. With $100,000 in grant funding available, this program aims to bridge the gap between local resource constraints and the need for local action, ensuring communities throughout Maryland can thrive.

Eligibility: Applicants must be an incorporated municipality that is registered or certified with the Sustainable Maryland program. Check here to check your municipality's SM status. Contact opierce@umd.edu to register your town with SM or follow the steps listed here.

Registered Communities

• Awards up to $5,000

• Total of $20,000

• Up to 4 awards expected.

Certified Communities

• Awards up to $20,000

• Total of $80,000

• Up to 4 awards expected.

For more information, please head to our website. You can also download our information packet

Apply for the grants here.

Applications must be submitted using the online application portal by 11:59 PM on Friday, November 8th, 2024. Questions? Email SMGrants@umd.edu

NEW SM SPONSOR:

REMINGTON & VERNICK ENGINEERS

Remington & Vernick Engineers (RVE) is one of the oldest established consulting firms in the country and has successfully completed tens of thousands of planning, engineering and capital infrastructure improvement projects. We provide multidisciplinary engineering services for diverse public sector clients. Our employees bring expertise, specialized certification and licensure in the major areas of engineering and the related disciplines required to implement projects in our four markets: Municipal, Transportation and Infrastructure, Facilities and Water/Wastewater.

Our professionals embrace the responsibility we have to facilitate a design and construction process that will enhance, protect and conserve our natural resources and built environment. RVE has been a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) since 2002 and designs and manages the construction of projects that are pursuing a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating. Professionals on our staff include LEED-accredited designers.

We understand the economic and environmental challenges faced by our clients in Maryland and the surrounding areas. We are focused on sustainable design and construction in conjunction with our clients’ goals of lowering energy and operating costs while improving health, productivity, community image and environmental consciousness.

To learn more about RVE, visit www.rve.com or contact Christohper Fazio, PE, Executive Vice President in our Laurel office at 240-583-7890 or via email at Christopher.Fazio@rve.com.

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.

SM SUSTAINABLE THURSDAYS CONTINUES IN OCTOBER:

MORE GUIDED SUSTAINABILITY TOURS

Join the SM Team and local experts on a series of guided tours aimed at elected officials, municipal staff and Green Team members. Hands on, real world sustainability projects, that you can take back to your community and replicate:

Thursday, Oct. 17, 4-6pm

Mixed Use/Transit Oriented Sustainable Development - Riverdale Park Station

REGISTER

Thursday, Oct. 24, 4-6pm

Green Infrastructure/Pervious Intersection - Colmar Manor

REGISTER

SUSTAINABLE BY DESIGN:

ESLC COMMISSIONS LAND USE ANALYSIS OF THE EASTERN SHORE

Over the past year, the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy has contracted with the firm Urban3 to study land use patterns throughout 8 counties on the Eastern Shore. Their data, and the impressive modeling maps they create show the varying value of land use investments for local government (rural and urban). They do this through a measurement called value per acre, which contrasts the public investment in infrastructure and services with property taxes.

ESLC will host two events on Tuesday, October 22 where attendees can learn more. Registration is below.

• The Packing House in Cambridge at 10:00 AM
• Chesapeake College in Wye Mills at 3:00 PM

https://www.eslc.org/sustainable-by-design-urban3/