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Dear SMC Executive Committee and Mayors' Advisory Council,
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Happy Arbor Day! Lots of Earth Month and springtime events happening across the state. Check out our monthly sampling of news, resources, events and other items from across the sustainability spectrum in Maryland.
SMC CERTIFICATION WEBINARS
The deadline for 2014 Sustainable Maryland Certified applications is Monday, June 30. Green Teams in communities that expect to apply for certification this year should make sure they are familiar with the process of online submission.
SMC will be hosting two webinars about the submission process. To learn more about the submission process, certification requirements and guidance on completing Actions, please sign-up below for a online Q & A with SMC staff.
Tuesday, May 6, 2:00pm: Register
SMC ACTION IDEAS
Community Garden (Priority Action)
Many Maryland municipalities, including Annapolis, Brunswick and Poolesville, have successful community gardens. Check out the Poolesville Community Garden Facebook page
Organizing a Green Fair/Festival Green Teams interested in creating an annual outreach event should check out Boonsboro's excellent Green Fest for a road map on putting on a hugely successful environmental festival in your community. For inspiration and guidance, here's their website and Facebook page.  Storm Drain Markers
NEWSCongratulations to University Park (Prince Georges County), the latest community to register with SMC. University Park has been a leader in residential energy efficiency initiatives (see their STEP-UP program) and renewable energy ( solar panels on their elementary school), and we're looking forward to working with their new Green Team on a variety of projects.
GRANTS
Community Groves Grants provide funding to help local organizations grow fruit and nut trees. In 2014, ACTrees is pleased to offer Grants up to $2,500 for ACTrees members to plant Community Groves in their communities. Grants require a 1:1 non-federal match. Deadline to apply is April 11. Community Groves Grants were funded in part by the US Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry program. More info
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals to restore the habitats and water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams. The Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund (CBSF) will award approximately $8 million - $10 million in grants in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Program. Proposals are due by midnight, May 15 and must be submitted through NFWF's Easygrants online application.
NFWF will host a webinar for applicants on Wednesday, April 2 at 11:00am to review the Request for Proposals and respond to questions. Applicants are strongly encouraged to participate, and can register for the webinar by following this link.
Chesapeake Bay Trust provides project specific funding. A few grants are still open for projects in specific counties. The grants still open for 2014 are: Anne Arundel Tree Planting, Charles County Tree Planting, Nontidal Wetlands projects, New Tech/Info program for water quality improvement. More info
EVENTS
Maryland Arbor Day
Date: April 2
Link
Howard County Green Fest
Theme: Water Quality Begins at Home
Date: April 5
Bowie Green Expo
Date: April 12
Link
Baltimore Green Week
Dates: April 18-26
Earth Day
Date: April 22
Annapolis Greenscape
Date: April 26
Link
DC/MD/VA Green Schools Summit
Date: April 26
Link
April 27
Earth, Water, Faith Festival - Annapolis
Date: April 27
Link
LOOKING AHEAD...
Ride4ECO: Bike Ride to Benefit ECO City Farms
Date: May 3
Boonsboro Green Fest
Date: May 10
Link
QUOTE"Anything else you're interested in is not going to happen if you can't breathe the air and drink the water. Don't sit this one out. Do something."
-Carl Sagan, astronomer, astrophysicist, author, and science communicator
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For more information about how your municipality can register in the Sustainable Maryland Certified program, plus customized Green Team training and access to student resources that are available to provide consultancy services for municipal planning, please call 301 405-7956 or email mikeh75@umd.edu
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Best regards,
Mike Hunninghake
Program Manager
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