Nonprofits Can Apply for Montgomery County Watershed Restoration and Outreach Grants in Program of County Department of Environmental Protection and Chesapeake Bay Trust

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Nonprofit organizations such as local watershed groups, community associations, faith-based organizations, service and civic groups can now apply for grants ranging from $30,000 to $100,000 through the Montgomery County Watershed Restoration and Outreach Grant Program. The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Chesapeake Bay Trust (the Trust) are partners in the program through the Trust’s grant process.

The grant program is now accepting proposals for projects that aim to promote initiatives and projects improving water quality in the County’s local streams and waterways, as called for in the County’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit and Implementation Strategy. The projects are located outside of the municipalities of Rockville, Gaithersburg and Takoma Park. The grant program is made possible through the County’s Water Quality Protection Fund.

Applications are due no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 2.

The goal of the program is to reduce stormwater runoff and pollutants through community-based projects, to broaden the diversity of people and groups involved and to support projects focused on education, outreach and stewardship.

Up to $30,000 is available for public outreach and stewardship projects and up to $100,000 for community-based restoration projects. New this year are grants up to $50,000 for litter-reduction projects in the Anacostia River Watershed.

Montgomery County Government has the responsibility to meet regulatory watershed restoration and water quality improvement goals. Significant effort is needed from individuals and community-based groups to meet the goals since the amount of privately owned land far exceeds the amount of government-owned property.

Earlier in 2021, more than $500,000 in grant funding was awarded to 15 organizations and included projects such as green infrastructure/stormwater projects; trash trap work; impervious surface removal; street trees; conservation landscape plantings; engagement of Latino audiences; work with and by faith-based audiences; green jobs programs; and water quality monitoring projects, including one using autonomous environmental robots.

To learn more, register for the pre-application workshop or review the request for proposals, go to https://cbtrust.org/grants/montgomery-county-watershed-restoration-outreach/ or contact Jeffrey Popp at 410-974-2941, extension 103.

# # #

 

Release ID: 21-729
Media Contact: Cindy Pena 202-875-1563
Categories: Environment