Montgomery County Nonprofits May Be Eligible for ‘Clean Water Montgomery Grants’ Awards Range from $40,000 to $100,000

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County nonprofit organizations including local watershed groups, homeowner and community associations, faith-based organizations, service and civic groups may be eligible for grants ranging from $40,000 to $100,000 via the “Clean Water Montgomery Grant” Program. The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Chesapeake Bay Trust (the Trust) partner to administer the program, which is made possible through the County’s Water Quality Protection Fund and through Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) funding.

“Through this partnership between the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and the Chesapeake Bay Trust, we are taking meaningful steps to protect our water quality and enhance our communities,“ said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “By supporting projects that address stormwater runoff and pollution, promote education and foster stewardship, we are empowering local organizations to play a crucial role in restoring and maintaining the health of our waterways.”

Eligible projects throughout Montgomery County will be considered outside of the municipalities of Rockville, Gaithersburg and Takoma Park, as these municipalities manage their stormwater separately. Applications are due no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov 16.

The program aims to support projects that will reduce stormwater runoff and pollutants affecting water quality through community-based projects, to broaden the diversity of people and groups involved in the restoration of the watershed. It also supports projects focused on education, outreach and stewardship. The grant program is now accepting proposals for projects such as tree plantings, installing permeable pavers and rain gardens that aim to improve the County’s water quality and stream health.

“Together, we can continue to make advances in improving the health of our waterways,” said Jana Davis, president of the Chesapeake Bay Trust. “Our successful partnership with Montgomery County allows more resources for local nonprofit organizations to accomplish measurable, visible improvements that protect our waterways and improve our communities.”

The program will be accepting applications in the following categories:

• Project Type 1: Public outreach and stewardship projects such as knowledge building, up to $40,000, and behavior change, up to $60,000.
• Project Type 2: Community-based restoration projects such as parking lot replacement with permeable pavement up to $100,000.
• Project Type 3: Tree Planting and Reforestation projects up to $100,000.
• Project Type 4: Litter-reduction projects in the Anacostia River Watershed up to $50,000.

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.

Last year, more than $1.1 million in grant funding was awarded for 23 projects such as green infrastructure/stormwater projects; pavement removal; conservation landscape plantings; engagement of diverse audiences in stewardship projects; work with and by faith-based audiences; green jobs programs; and water quality monitoring projects.

The average approval rate of applications from the last three rounds in the grant program is 74 percent, including fully and partially funded applications. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Trust to discuss their eligible project ideas prior to applying to submit the best proposals.

To learn more, register for the pre-application workshop, or review the request for proposals, visit https://cbtrust.org/grants/montgomery-county-watershed-restoration-outreach/ or contact Kathy Somoza at 410-974-2941, extension 120.

The mission of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection is to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting and improving Montgomery County’s air, water, and land in a sustainable way while fostering smart growth, a thriving economy, and healthy communities.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust (www.cbtrust.org) Envisions a restored, protected, and resilient Chesapeake Bay watershed and other natural resources in our area, from the Coastal Bays to the Chesapeake to the Youghiogheny River. The Trust empowers about 400 local community-based groups each year with the resources they need to take on a meaningful and measurable role in restoring forests, streams, rivers, bays, wildlife and more in their own communities.