For more than three decades, the Environmental Finance Center has helped hundreds of local, state, and federal partners throughout the Mid-Atlantic region advance policies, programs, and financing strategies that achieve outcomes for people, places, and the environment. See EFC’s featured work below.
EFC's Featured Work
Region 3 WaterTA Program
The Region 3 WaterTA program offers direct support to municipalities, tribes, and water utilities in US EPA Region 3 to help them access federal and state funding to address water infrastructure needs.
Maryland Local Government Climate Action Support Program
EFC is coordinating with the Maryland Department of Environment to help build the local capacity of Maryland communities to plan, fund, and implement climate projects and community-based climate-related outreach campaigns.
Mid-Atlantic Sustainable Breweries
The Mid-Atlantic Sustainable Breweries Program offers free sustainability consultations to help craft brewers assess operations and implement practices related to energy, water, wastewater, air emissions, and cleaning and sanitizing – all while saving costs and improving brand recognition.
Rainwater Harvesting for Urban Farms
EFC is coordinating with UMD's School of Public Health, Extension, and USDA Agricultural Research Services to help urban farmers harvest and filter rainwater to nourish their crops and create more sustainable farms and resilient communities.
EFC Projects and Publications
See EFC’s work in action by browsing our current and archived (completed) projects below.
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2023 - PresentBuilding Climate Resilience in Prince George's County
While the scale of action required to address climate change is daunting, it is also an opportunity to build strong local community capacity. In FY23, EFC was funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust Prince George’s County Stormwater Stewardship Grant program, to pilot a residential training program designed to educate and engage community members on climate change and empower them to serve as community climate champions that have the capacity to lead local climate implementation efforts.View Project Details for Building Climate Resilience in Prince George's County -
2025 (April)2024 Annual Report - The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland
Dear Friends and Supporters,View Project Details for 2024 Annual Report - The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland -
2024 - PresentBrentwood Climate Action Plan Implementation
EFC, in partnership with the Town of Brentwood, MD, and Nature Forward, is working to implement equitable climate resilience strategies in the Brentwood community, with a focus on engaging Latinx residents and businesses. This project, funded by the Climate Resilience Fund, will support Brentwood’s Climate Action Plan by designing and conducting community outreach and education activities on climate resilience, particularly for underserved communities.View Project Details for Brentwood Climate Action Plan Implementation -
2024 - PresentPepco and Delmarva Power Sustainable Communities Grant Programs
The 2025 Grant Program offers funding for two key initiatives: Environmental Stewardship and Community Resiliency. The Environmental Stewardship program supports projects that aim to protect water quality, reduce urban heat islands, and provide social benefits like health and community cohesion. Eligible activities include conservation efforts, pollution prevention, community engagement, improvement of open spaces (such as installing recreation trails or informational kiosks), and land acquisition for open space or conservation easements.View Project Details for Pepco and Delmarva Power Sustainable Communities Grant Programs -
2024 - PresentBaltimore Greater Regional Environmental Equity Network
EFC is serving as the Network Coordinator for the Baltimore Greater Regional Environmental Equity Network (BGREEN). This work builds on EFC’s experience facilitating collaboratives and working with community-based organizations focused on environmental justice issues in the Baltimore region. BGREEN is a coalition of partners with the shared interest of building community and institutional capacity by creating resilient, equitable, and sustainable communities through nature-based work.View Project Details for Baltimore Greater Regional Environmental Equity Network -
2024 - Present
Supporting Maryland’s Local Governments to Take Climate Action
To meet Maryland’s nation-leading greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals of net-zero emissions by 2045, the State of Maryland has committed to delivering state-wide and economy-wide climate pollution reduction plans under the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) for Planning.View Project Details for Supporting Maryland’s Local Governments to Take Climate Action