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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2015 - 2019State Financing Strategies for Chesapeake Bay Restoration
States in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are implementing strategies to restore the health of the Bay and the region’s creeks, streams, and rivers. These activities are being implemented in accordance with the US EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load, which identifies necessary pollution reductions from major sources of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment to meet water quality standards in the bay. Through the “Financing Strategies” project, EFC supported bay states in their pollution abatemView Project Details for State Financing Strategies for Chesapeake Bay Restoration -
2015 (September)Enhancing Boating in Maryland: Task Force
Recreational boating represents $2.2 billion in economic impact and over 20,000 jobs to the State of Maryland. As the word “recreational” suggests, boating is a discretionary expense and as such, boating is inextricably linked to the state of the economy both nationally and here in Maryland. During the economic downturn from 2009 through 2013, there were two disturbing trends in boating in the State: a reduction of 14,000 boats registered in Maryland and a 50% reduction in revenue to the Waterway Improvement Fund (WIF).View Project Details for Enhancing Boating in Maryland: Task Force -
2015 (July)Berkeley County, WV Public Service Sewer District Stormwater Financing Feasibility Study
The EFC worked collaboratively with Berkeley County, West Virginia, to conduct a stormwater financing feasibility study. Berkeley County lies in the Potomac River watershed and, at the time of this study, was the only county in West Virginia to hold a stormwater MS4 permit. Under the County’s MS4 permit, the Berkeley County Public Service Sewer District (PSSD) is required to develop a stormwater management program to reduce stormwater from discharging in receiving waters.View Project Details for Berkeley County, WV Public Service Sewer District Stormwater Financing Feasibility Study -
2015 (December)Community-Supported Flooding and Stormwater Management in St. Michaels, MD
The Town of St. Michaels was developed in the 1770s as a working waterfront community. St. Michaels is bound by water to the east and west making it an ideal area for shipbuilding, fishing and other maritime commerce in the 1800s. Today, St. Michaels pays homage to its’ waterfront heritage while recognizing the need to adapt to flooding and stormwater challenges, driven in large-part by climate change.View Project Details for Community-Supported Flooding and Stormwater Management in St. Michaels, MD -
2014 (October 1)EFC Releases New Report on Green Infrastructure in Warrington Township, Pennsylvania
In this final report, the EFC provided a set of recommendations to the Township, including identifying and prioritizing funding sources for the Township to access, developing partnerships with existing local organizations, and integrating green infrastructure into land conservation planning and project site design. AttachmentsView Project Details for EFC Releases New Report on Green Infrastructure in Warrington Township, Pennsylvania -
2014 (June 30)Green Infrastructure in the Mid-South
On behalf of the Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) through the Capacity Building for Sustainable Communities program, this report presents recommendations for implementing and financing green infrastructure elements of the Mid-South Regional Greenprint Vision Plan so that the region can enhance water quality while simultaneously extending its network of trails for recreation, active transportation, public health, and other community benefits.AttachmentsView Project Details for Green Infrastructure in the Mid-South