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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Standardizing the Return on Investment in Urban and Community Forestry Resources
Photo Credit: Eric Reed A universally accepted accounting framework to holistically measure the benefits and costs of urban and community forest resources does not exist. EFC partnered with organizations versed in carbon trading, financing mechanisms, research, and urban forest management to develop a standardized, replicable, and transparent accounting system that can assess return on urban tree canopy investments for private, nonprofit, and public investors. View Project Details for Standardizing the Return on Investment in Urban and Community Forestry Resources -
State 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 seeks to support bay states in their pollutionView Project Details for State Financing Strategies for Chesapeake Bay Restoration -
Town of Emmitsburg Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study
The Town of Emmitsburg is currently mid-way through its first MS4 Permit cycle (10/31/18 - 10/30/23). To date, most of the Town’s effort has been focused on meeting the MCM requirements, leaving the more costly impervious restoration requirements for the later portion of the permit cycle. Additionally, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has informed the Town that there are certain activities that will need to be increased (such as the frequency of street sweeping) for the next permit cycle.View Project Details for Town of Emmitsburg Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study -
Town of Slaughter Beach Oyster Restoration Support
The Town of Slaughter Beach is working to build economic resilience by valuing natural resources, exploring ecotourism, and promoting economic opportunity in the Mispillion River and Cedar Creek watersheds. View Project Details for Town of Slaughter Beach Oyster Restoration Support -
Characterizing the Economic Impact Associated with Dairy Farm Best Management Practices
Since 2018, the Turkey Hill Clean Water Partnership has made waves in the agricultural industry; incentivizing farmers to get involved in conservation and elevating Turkey Hill’s supply chain. This groundbreaking partnership has a monumental impact on the Lancaster community, the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and beyond.View Project Details for Characterizing the Economic Impact Associated with Dairy Farm Best Management Practices -
Chesapeake Bay Science and Technical Committee Workshop U.S. Biochar Initiative
Biochar is a carbon-rich (charcoal-like) material formed by “cooking” (thermochemical conversion) waste organic matter, (harvested/waste wood, green waste, manures, etc.) in an oxygen-free environment. It is an ancient technology termed Terra Preta (“Dark Earth”) in ancient Amazon Basin cultures and was principally used to enrich farmlands prior to the advent of modern fertilizers. In the last several decades, biochar has seen a resurgence worldwide due to its ability to address a multitude of environmental objectives.View Project Details for Chesapeake Bay Science and Technical Committee Workshop U.S. Biochar Initiative