The Maryland Environmental Trust approved more than $205,000 worth of grants for community cleanups, tree planting projects, and environmental stewardship throughout 10 Maryland jurisdictions, including Baltimore City.
The state’s land trust approved 21 grants for a total of $205,134 through the Keep Maryland Beautiful program.
“The community work being supported through this program shows that every contribution matters when it comes to protecting our natural resources,” Maryland natural resources secretary Josh Kurtz said in a statement. “The Keep Maryland Beautiful grants are a testament to the work and collaboration among our funding partners and longstanding supporters who invest in the program year after year.”
Grant recipients spanned nine counties and Baltimore City, including awards for the following organizations:
Anne Arundel County
- Scenic Rivers Land Trust (Land Trust Assistance Grant)
Baltimore City
- 3200 Carlisle Block Association (Community Stewardship Grants)
- Baltimore Green Space (Land Trust Assistance Grant)
- Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church (Community Stewardship Grants)
- Charles Village Community Benefits District (Community Stewardship Grants)
- Friends of Gwynns Falls Leakin Park (Community Stewardship Grants)
- Living Classrooms Foundation (Community Stewardship Grants)
Baltimore County
- Gunpowder Valley Conservancy (Land Trust Assistance Grant)
- Land Preservation Trust (Land Trust Assistance Grant)
Calvert County
- American Chestnut Land Trust (Land Trust Assistance Grant)
- Greg Bowen, American Chestnut Land Trust (Aileen Hughes Grant)
Charles County
- Conservancy for Charles County (Land Trust Assistance Grant)
- Historical Society of Charles County (Community Stewardship Grants)
Garrett County
- Deep Creek Watershed Foundation (Community Stewardship Grants)
Howard County
- Howard EcoWorks (Tree Planting on Agricultural Lands Grant)
- Patapsco Heritage Greenway (Community Stewardship Grants)
Montgomery County
- Community Food Forest Collective (Community Stewardship Grants)
- Rock Creek Conservancy (Community Stewardship Grants)
Prince George’s County
- Berwyn District Civic Association (Community Stewardship Grants)
Washington County
- Land and Cultural Preservation Fund (Tree Planting on Agricultural Lands Grant)
The grants are funded by the Maryland Environmental Trust, which is a unit of the state’s Department of Natural Resources; the Maryland Department of Transportation; and the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
The Maryland Environmental Trust manages the grant program. The Chesapeake Bay Trust administers the program on behalf of DNR.
“Our natural resources are among Maryland’s greatest assets and the Maryland Department of Transportation is proud to be a partner in ensuring a healthy and accessible environment for our families and communities,” said Katie Thomson, acting secretary of Maryland’s transportation department, in a statement. “Funding from the Keep Maryland Beautiful grants fosters stewardship of nature and supports environmental work by organizations, schools and neighborhoods.”
“By empowering local communities, land trusts, and non-profits to take ownership of environmental stewardship, we are protecting the very natural resources that the agricultural community relies on to thrive,” said Kevin Atticks, the state’s agriculture secretary, in a statement. “From supporting soil health to preserving the open spaces that define our rural heritage, these grants ensure that Maryland’s working landscapes remain productive and vibrant. When we invest in the beauty and health of our land, we are directly investing in the long-term success of our farmers and the resiliency of our state’s number one industry.”
Grants have been awarded through the Keep Maryland Beautiful program since the Maryland Environmental Trust was established in 1967. But this year’s program marks 40 consecutive years of grants awarded for Maryland environmental conservation and care.
