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Sustainable Maryland Update
November 2015


Congratulations to our 2015 Sustainable Maryland Certified Municipalities!

Our monthly sampling of news, resources, events and other items of interest from across the sustainability spectrum in Maryland.  
 2015 Class of Sustainable Maryland Certified municipalities, at the Maryland Municipal League's annual Fall Conference in Cambridge, MD
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
 
EPA Urban Waters Small Grants
Deadline: November 20
More info
 
Charles County Forestry Grant Program (Chesapeake Bay Trust)
Deadline: Rolling
More info

Community Engagement & Restoration Mini-grants (Chesapeake Bay Trust)
Deadline: Rolling
More info

Prince Georges County Weatherization Program  

Deadline: Rolling   


Prince Georges County Raincheck Rebate  (Chesapeake Bay Trust)
Deadline: Rolling
More info

EVENTS CALENDAR


Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Conference
Dates: Nov. 11-12
Location: Baltimore
Link

Home Grown Transit in Maryland - Workshop
Date: Nov. 12
Location: Baltimore
Link

Turning a New Leaf Conference
Date: Nov. 13
Location: Towson
Link

MD Water Monitoring Council Conference
Date: Nov. 13
Location: North Linthicum
Link

Creative Financing for Sustainability Projects
Dates: Nov. 16, 18, 19
Locations: various
(see right for more info)

Conscious Capitalism: The Economics of Doing Good
Date: Nov. 17
Location: Towson
Link

Greenbuild Conference and Expo
Dates: Nov. 18-20
Location: Washington, DC
Link

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Annual Conference: Powering Our Renewable Energy Future
Date: Nov. 19
Location: Easton
Link

2015 Agriculture and Environmental Law Conference
Date: Nov. 20
Location: Annapolis
Link

Looking Ahead

Rural Summit 2015 - "ASPIRE Rural Maryland"
Date: Dec. 3
Location: Annapolis
Link

Building Innovation
Dates: Jan. 11-15
Location: Washington, DC
Link

Cultivate the Chesapeake Foodshed
Dates: Jan. 14-16
Location: College Park
Link

National Bike Summit
Dates: March 7-9
Location: Washington, DC
Link


SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND MUNICIPALITIES IN THE NEWS

Poolesville Earns Sustainable Maryland Certification 
  
Berlin Notches Sustainable Maryland Re-Certification
Link

Hagerstown One of 12 Towns to Become Sustainable Maryland Certified
Emmitsburg, Brunswick Receive Sustainability Certification 
Link

Chestertown Re-Certified in Sustainable Maryland Program
OUR 2015 CLASS OF SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND CERTIFIED!
We are pleased to announce the following 12 municipalities achieved Sustainable Maryland Certified status in 2015:
  • City of Mount Rainer (Prince George's County; first certified in 2012) - Mount Rainier was named our 2015 Sustainability Champion for amassing an impressive 495 points on their application, more than any other community this year.
  • Town of Berlin
    (Worcester County; first certified in 2012)
  • City of Brunswick (Frederick County)
  • City of Cambridge (first municipality certified in Dorchester County)
  • Town of Centreville (first municipality certified in Queen Anne's County)
  • Town of Chestertown (Kent County; first certified in 2012)
  • Town of Easton (first municipality certified in Talbot County)-
  • Town of Emmitsburg (Frederick County)
  • City of Hagerstown (Washington County)
  • City of Laurel (Prince George's County)
  • Town of Poolesville (Montgomery County)
  • City of Rockville (Montgomery County; first certified in 2012)
Go to the map of Sustainable Maryland municipalities and click on a town or city to view their individual certification reports.

City of Mount Rainier -
2015 Sustainability Champion 
We are especially pleased this year by the successful re-certification of the first four Sustainable Maryland Certified municipalities from 2012. This speaks volumes about both the value communities place on our certification designation, and the sustainability of the municipal Green Team/Action Plan framework we have created here in Maryland. The innovative projects and plans completed help improve the quality of life in all of the certified communities and help reduce our collective footprint on the planet.

Well Done Class of 2015! 
 
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! CREATIVE FINANCING FOR SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS WORKSHOPS

Leadership Training Workshops: 
Creative Financing for Sustainability Projects 

OVERVIEW:
You've heard of some these creative options for financing sustainability projects in the last few years: solar coops, public/private partnerships (P3s), green bonds, power purchase agreements... But maybe you still don't know what they are all about???

Our upcoming Leadership Training workshops will provide you with:
  • An overview of the range of potential funding sources and implementation mechanisms on the market TODAY!
  • Tools to help save money and create efficiencies.
  • Direct access to financing providers and real-world examples.
3 DATES / 3 LOCATIONS - SAME GREAT PROGRAM! 
 
Choose the most convenient date/location: 

Monday, November 16, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Cambridge Public Safety Building, Cambridge

Wednesday, November 18, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland, College Park
Thursday, November 19, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Location: University System of Maryland at Hagerstown

AGENDA 

REGISTRATION FEE: $35.00 (includes breakfast, lunch, program materials, free parking)
 
Questions? Contact Mike Hunninghake at mikeh75@umd.edu or 301-405-7956.

Sponsored by Sustainable Maryland

Many thanks to the Town Creek Foundation for their support of our Leadership Training programs. 

Co-Sponsored by:
Smart Growth America - MD Chapter of the Local Leaders Council  
 
WEDNESDAY WEBINARS ON SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainable Maryland is pleased to offer webinars on a variety of topics related to Sustainable Maryland Actions and sustainability projects this fall. Our last webinar this year:

Wednesday, December 2, 2:00pm    
Topic: How To Start A Community Garden (SM Action)   
 
COST: FREE
 
Questions? Contact Brandy Espinola at bespinol@umd.edu

QUOTE
"I am proud and honored for the City of Hagerstown to be recognized with the Sustainable Maryland certification.  This recognition validates the vision of the elected body and leadership of the city and all the hard work of committed staff and citizens to bring our vision of a sustainable community into reality.  The Sustainable Maryland program and process has served as a guide as we build upon successes of the past toward setting even higher sustainability goals for the future."

--David Gysberts, Mayor, City of Hagerstown

Sustainable Maryland is an initiative of the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland. It is a free and voluntary program designed to help Maryland communities choose a direction for their sustainability efforts, improve access to resources needed to implement action, and recognize their accomplishments. Our sponsors include the Town Creek Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Maryland Municipal League. For more information about how your municipality can register  in the Sustainable Maryland program, plus customized Green Team training and access to student resources that are available to provide consultancy services for municipal planning, please contact 301 405-7956 or mikeh75@umd.edu   

Mike Hunninghake
Program Manager 
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