SMC Launches Website for Municipalities
Overview
Sustainable Maryland Certified is a new initiative of the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland (EFC) designed to support Maryland's 157 municipalities as they look for cost-effective and strategic ways to protect their natural assets and revitalize their communities. Using best practices in resource areas like water, air, waste, energy, equity, and economy, a municipality can earn points toward sustainability certification.
This free and voluntary program, with the full support of the Maryland Municipal League (MML), will help communities choose a direction for their greening efforts; complete their chosen actions with help from program tools, trainings, case studies, and other resources; and be recognized for their accomplishments. Sustainable Maryland Certified will offer a menu of actions, allowing communities to choose activities specific to their needs and plan across community priorities to achieve multiple community benefits.
MISSION STATEMENT: The Mission of Sustainable Maryland Certified is to enhance livability for all Marylanders by helping municipalities choose a direction for their sustainability efforts, improve access to resources needed to implement action, measure their progress, and gain recognition for their accomplishments.
Sustainable Maryland Certified will help municipalities:
- Gain access to training, tools, and expert guidance;
- Realize cost savings and improve the bottom line;
- Conserve resources while promoting community viability
Sustainable Maryland Certified features:
- Menu of options lets communities choose actions that fit their needs;
- Holistic vision helps communities plan across community priorities;
- Free and voluntary makes participation easy.
Certification actions will be based on best practices as identified by sector-specific task forces of resource protection and economic development experts under the direction of an Executive Committee that will provide guidance and structure to the program development process. These actions and associated resources will also be vetted through a
Mayors' Advisory Council that will speak to the feasibility and usefulness of proposed certification actions, tools, and trainings, as well as help to identify any resource gaps.
Sector-specific task forces have formed and are meeting regularly to develop action items that should be included in the program. These groups are charged with tailoring certification criteria, tools, and trainings to meet the needs of Maryland communities. The Environmental Finance Center will facilitate the task force process, as well as meetings of the
Mayors' Advisory Council and
Executive Committee.
A Proven Model
The EFC and the Maryland Municipal League are
working with Sustainable Jersey ™ to duplicate
their success throughout the Mid-Atlantic states,
beginning in Maryland. Sustainable Jersey ™ is a certification for New Jersey municipalities that are actively taking steps to improve the long-term quality of life in their communities. The program, administered by the Municipal Land Use Center at the College of New Jersey, has experienced great success, with half the state's municipalities already registered to participate.
The program is based on a process of earning
points for a variety of sustainable actions. These
actions include best practices in a variety of
areas including water, air, waste, energy, equity,
and economy. When a certain number of
actions have been suitably documented and a
set number of points earned, the municipality
is recognized with Bronze or Silver Level certification.
Sustainable Jersey™ Presentation from Sustainable Maryland Certified Stakeholder Meeting, September 17, 2010
Sustainable Maryland Certified's Founding Mayors:
- Mayor Michael Bennett, Aberdeen
- Mayor Cheye Calvo, Berwyn Heights
- Mayor Bruce Wahl, Chesapeake Beach
- Mayor Margo Bailey, Chestertown
- Mayor Andrew Fellows, College Park
- Mayor Michael Hale, Colmar Manor
- Mayor Sidney Katz, Gaithersburg
- Mayor Judith Davis, Greenbelt
- Mayor Dennis Scheessele, Indian Head
- Mayor Malinda Miles, Mount Rainier
- Mayor Bruce Williams, Takoma Park
Sustainable Maryland Certified's Executive Committee:
- Mayor Michael Bennett, Aberdeen
- Maia Davis, Metropolitan Council of Governments
- Jana Davis, Chesapeake Bay Trust
- Mayor J. Davis, Greenbelt
- Carol Gilbert, Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development
- Scott Hancock, Maryland Municipal League
- Bill Matuszeski, formerly with Chesapeake Bay Program
- Mayor Malinda Miles, Mt. Rainier
- Sandi Olek, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
- Pam Ruff, Maryland Economic Development Association
- Dru Schmidt-Perkins, 1000 Friends of Maryland
- Jacqueline Seneschal, KCI Technologies, Inc.
- Gary Skulnik, Clean Currents
- Scot Spencer, Annie E. Casey Foundation
- Joe Tassone, Maryland Department of Planning
Sustainable Maryland Certified's Task Forces:
- Community Action
- Health & Wellness
- Local Economies
- Natural Resources
- Planning & the Built Environment
- Social Equity
- Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable Maryland Certified Progress Reports
Sustainable Maryland Certified November 2010 Progress Report
Sustainable Maryland Certified December 2010 Progress Report
Sustainable Maryland Certified January/February 2011 Progress Report
Press
"Sustainable Maryland Certified Launches Website to for Maryland Municipalities"
SMC Presentation at Maryland Municipal Convention, June 26, 2011
"Colmar Manor hopes to turn small town into big environmental leader", Gazette, November 2010
"City of Frederick looks to go greener", Frederick News-Post Online, March 2011
"Sustainable Maryland Certified can help cities and towns", Municipal Maryland Magazine, February, 2011
Sustainable Maryland Printable Fact Sheet
Possible Municipal Resources/Grant Opportunties
The Maryland Environmental Trust is accepting grant applications for the Keep
Maryland Beautiful Program from voluntary non-profit groups or communities for
solutions to environmental problems.
The Margaret Rosch Jones Award of up to $2000 is awarded for an ongoing project
that has already demonstrated success in solving an environmental issue, whether
local or statewide. The Bill James Environmental Grants of up to $1000 are
awarded to nonprofit youth groups for new environmental education projects in
their community. Deadline for both grant applications is March 31, 2011.
Successful applicants will be notfied in May 2011.
Application form at Maryland Department of Natural Resources website or from Beki Howey at Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
EPA Seeks Applications for Environmental Community Grants
EPA is making approximately $2 million available in 2011 to reduce pollution at the local level through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program. CARE is a community-based program that works with county and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations and universities to help the public understand and reduce toxic risks from numerous sources. Since 2005, CARE has reached 78 communities in several states and territories. A recent evaluation by the National Association of Public Administration (NAPA) recognized the CARE program as a solid tested framework for engaging communities and other stakeholders.
EPA will award CARE cooperative agreements in two levels. Level I awards range from $75,000 to $100,000 each and will help establish community-based partnerships to develop local environmental priorities.
Level II awards range from $150,000 to $300,000 each and will support communities that have established broad-based partnerships, have identified the priority toxic risks in the community, and are prepared to measure results, implement risk-reduction activities and become self-sustaining.
Please note that due to appropriation law concerns, until Congress provides separate authorization, EPA can only award CARE Level II cooperative agreements to applicants that have already received CARE Level I cooperative agreements.
Applications for the CARE assistance agreements are due by March 22, 2011, 4 p.m. EST. EPA will conduct three Webcasts to answer questions from prospective applicants about the application process on February 8 and 23, and March 2 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
For more information about the CARE assistance agreements visit:
http://www.epa.gov/care/
For the 2011 CARE Request for Proposals (RFP) visit:
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=vBDhNvSFC1tJvGM27mnGqt91tD9ZcjJP2TL2C6ZQ6P95LrQWdDHQ!1499805812?oppId=64453&mode=VIEW
Contact:
info@sustainablemaryland.com
301.405.7956
LINKS
Green Team Training SMC Orientation Presentation
Green Team Handbook
Purchase Recycled Products Presentation
Greenbelt News 9-15-2011
