Welcome to The Environmental Finance Center, University of Maryland.

EFC Joins the National Center for Smart Growth

Effective February 1, 2007, the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) became an independent operating unit located within the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education (NCSG) at the University of Maryland (news release). This merger will allow the two centers to work collaboratively on issues such as land use planning, natural resource preservation and urban growth issues. NCSG was created in 2000 as an affiliate of four schools and colleges at the University of Maryland: the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, the School of Public Affairs, the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Our Mission

The Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the University of Maryland is one of nine University-based centers across the country providing communities with the tools and information necessary to manage change for a healthy environment and an enhanced quality of life. EFC believes that environmental finance can be used to develop a shared community vision. Our focus is protecting natural resources and watersheds by strengthening the capacity of local decision-makers to analyze environmental problems, develop innovative and effective methods of financing environmental efforts and educate communities about the role of finance and economic development in the protection of the environment.

Our Approach

EFC promotes a comprehensive concept of environmental financing where state and federal funding programs are combined with innovative financing techniques to create a sustainable watershed protection financing strategy.

EFC uses a number of tools to help communities identify the financing strategies that best fit their needs including:

• Technical Assistance
• Financing charrettes and seminars
• Conferences and workshop sessions
• Handbooks and publications
• Training programs
• Program facilitation, coordination, and management

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Clean Diesel Program Applications and guidelines now available (October 2009)

Financial Planning Seminar for Port Dray Truckers

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Press Release :
Delaware Department Of Agriculture

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EFC hosts symposium,
Financing Renewable Energy in the Mid-Atlantic September 22, 2009. Presentations now available!

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EFC joins the
Watershed Assistance Collaborative
  &
Middle Chester Report Now Available

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Final report available for
Occoquan District Community Visioning
project [May 2009]

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Funding Sources for Agriculture [2009]

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Environmental Finance Courses available from the University of Maryland in Spring 2010.

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Results of the Poultry Litter Experts Science Forum. Click HERE for final report.

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Foodtrader.org adds Seafood! Check out the press coverage: Southern Maryland Online and Maryland Daily Record (October 9, 2009)