Funding Available to Advance Green Infrastructure Projects
throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Molly Alton Mullins 410.974.2941, Ext. 107
EPA: Terri White 215-814-5523 white.terri@epa.gov
(ANNAPOLIS, Md. – January 30, 2013) Today the Chesapeake Bay Trust, supported by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, announced
the 2013 Green Streets-Green Jobs-Green Towns Grant Program, an initiative designed to support
urban green infrastructure projects that lead to improved water quality within the Chesapeake Bay
watershed.
Created in 2011 as part of EPA’s strategy for implementing President Obama’s Executive Order for
Protecting and Restoring the Chesapeake Bay, this program is open to local governments and nonprofit organizations in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and
Virginia that are interested in pursuing urban green stormwater infrastructure and green jobs as part
of a watershed plan.
“Providing cities and towns with the tools they need to help manage stormwater runoff and
implement green infrastructure projects is crucial to the vitality of our local communities,” said EPA
Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “Through this program we’re able to build local
capacity to implement innovative, cost-effective projects across the region that improve our
waterways while we create local, sustainable jobs.”
Funding is available for innovative green street project planning, design, and alternative financing
($35,000 level) and implementation/construction (up to $100,000). All applications must be
submitted online by March 22, 2013.
“There are tremendous advantages to local communities that choose to add green infrastructure
components to necessary and already planned gray infrastructure projects, like street reengineering
or repaving projects,” said Dr. Jana Davis, executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Trust. “Not
only do local greening efforts greatly enhance environmental factors like improved air and water
quality, but they also increase community livability while improving economic vitality.”
To date, more than $600,000 has been awarded through this grant program to support local,
grassroots-level greening efforts by towns and communities in urbanized watersheds that reduce
stormwater runoff, through creation of “green streets.” Green streets are a natural systems approach
that incorporates a variety of water quality, energy-efficiency, and other environmental best
practices that increase infiltration and/or filtration of runoff, reduce flows, and enhance watershed
health.
The Chesapeake Bay Green Streets-Green Jobs-Green Towns Academy will also host a webinar to
discuss this Request for Proposals and to showcase successful grant projects on January 31 from 1:303:00 pm. This webcast is targeted to local governments and non-profit organizations in urbanized
watersheds in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Washington D.C., and Virginia and will benefit
anyone interested in pursuing green streets, urban green infrastructure, or green jobs as part of an overall
integrated community or watershed plan. To register visit:
http://mp118885.cdn.mediaplatform.com/118885/ml/mp/4000/5345/5417/22255/Lobby/default.htm.
For more information on the 2013 Green Streets-Green Jobs-Green Towns Grant Program, please
visit www.cbtrust.org.
About the Chesapeake Bay Trust:
The Chesapeake Bay Trust (www.cbtrust.org) is a nonprofit grant-making
organization dedicated to improving the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers through
environmental education, community outreach, and local watershed restoration.
Since its inception in 1985, the Trust has awarded $45 million in grants and engaged hundreds of thousands
of citizen stewards in projects that have a measurable impact on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The
Trust is supported by the sale of the Maryland Treasure the Chesapeake license plate, donations to the
Chesapeake Bay and Endangered Species Fund on the Maryland State income tax form, donations from
individuals and corporations, and partnerships with private foundations and federal and state agencies.
Almost 90 percent of the Trust’s expenditures are directed to its Chesapeake Bay restoration and education
programs.