#SM15yrs

SM 2026 Action Grants

Sustainable Maryland grant funding for SM-registered and certified municipalities!



Sustainable Maryland is pleased to announce the third year 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 is made possible through the Sustainable Maryland Program Fund, which allocates a portion of the state’s annual budget to support local sustainability efforts. With $100,000 in annual 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. Since 2024, the Sustainable Maryland has awarded $210,000 in funding for the Sustainable Maryland Action Grants Program.

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 Leo Pierce at 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 or register for our informational webinar on October 8th, 12-1pm.

Apply for the grants here.

Applications must be submitted using the online application portal by 11:59 PM on November 13th, 2026. At that time the portal will close. Only online application submissions will be considered for funding.

SM Sustainability Tours in WALKtober

Please join us on one or more of the following tours, and please check out MDOT's walking activities in WALKtober:

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 5:30-6:30pm

Pollinator Corridor: Connecticut Avenue in DC

REGISTRATION/AGENDA

Led by Certified Master Gardener/Master Naturalist Kathy Sykes, attendees on this walking tour of the Connecticut Avenue Pollinator Corridor-Van Ness DC will learn about:

• History of this volunteer-led project
• Variety of native plant species across multiple city blocks
• Diversity of bird and insect species
• Partnerships with the City, University of the District of Columbia, Van Ness Main Street and local businesses

Saturday, Oct. 17, 10:00am-Noon

Sustainability in the Alleghenies: City of Frostburg

REGISTRATION/AGENDA



Led by staff, elected officials & Green Team members, attendees on this tour of a small city (pop 7,000) will learn about:

• Edible Arboretum (food forest)
• City Place: Buy Nothing event and farmers market location
• DC Fast EV Charging Stations
• Hoffman Park: woodland trail and nature-themed playground
• Parking lot with EV charging, e-bike charging, and police EVs
• Centennial Hill pumping station

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1:00-2:00pm

Make Soil, Not Trash: Organics Composting Facility in Prince George's County

REGISTRATION/AGENDA

On this bus tour, guided by the Composting Operations manager, attendees will learn about:

• How 50,000 tons of organic material are processed annually
• Windrow composting process
• CASP composting process
• How LeafGro and LeafGro GOLD products are sold
• Update on Prince George's County's "PGC Composts" curbside food scrap collection program.
  

All tours are free. Itineraries subject to change. Space is limited; registration required.

PaintCare offers drop-off sites throughout Maryland where the public can take unwanted paint for recycling. These sites are available to households, businesses, government agencies, and others with leftover paint. PaintCare sites accept house paint as well as primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish. Accepted products, also referred to as “PaintCare products” and “architectural coatings,” are the same ones that carry the PaintCare fee when purchased. Learn more at PaintCare