The county is offering grants from $40,000 to $100,000 to local nonprofit groups for projects designed to improve the county’s water quality and stream health, officials announced.
The grants are through the Clean Water Montgomery Grant program, a partnership between the Department of Environmental Protection and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
Proposals will be accepted from local watershed groups, homeowner and community associations, faith-based organizations, service and civic groups and could cover anything from tree planting to installing permeable pavers to rain gardens, as long at they are outside the municipalities of Rockville, Gaithersburg and Takoma Park.
“Through this program, more than $500,000 in grant funding was awarded last year to 15 organizations,” County Executive Marc Elrich said in a press release. “These grants supported projects to improve water quality, plant trees, engage diverse audiences and create green jobs throughout the county.”
The county and the trust will accept applications in the following categories, according to the release:
- Tree planting and reforestation projects (up to $100,000)
- Public outreach and stewardship projects such as knowledge building (up to $40,000)
- Community-based restoration projects such as parking lot replacement with permeable pavement (up to $100,000), and
- Litter-reduction projects in the Anacostia River Watershed (up to $50,000).
Groups considering a project should discuss their idea with the trust before submitting a proposal.
Applications are due no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17. More information and the chance register for a pre-application workshop or review the request for proposals is available online, or contact Kathy Somoza at 410.974.2941, extension 120.
Montgomery County graphic