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 - 2025Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC)
What is the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program (EJ TCTAC)?View Project Details for Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC) -
2023 - 2025Building Local Capacity to Implement Climate Action
EFC designed and delivered broad-reaching education and training opportunities to increase awareness and implementation of the Climate Solutions Now Act (CSNA) via deployment of federal funds to leverage clean energy projects and investments. The initiative included webinars, leadership trainings, and technical assistance focused on key climate topics such as building electrification, renewable energy, and electric vehicle transition.View Project Details for Building Local Capacity to Implement Climate Action -
2023 - 2024
Developing a Stormwater Master Plan for Timberbrook Condominium, Inc. in Gaithersburg, MD
Following up on EFC's 2022 work with Timberbrook Condominiums in Gaithersburg, MD to develop a Sustainability Action Plan, in 2023, EFC and Green Mechanics, BLLC worked with Timberbrook to develop a Stormwater Plan for the community. The purpose of the Stormwater Plan was to present the community with a prioritized list of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) to help alleviate stormwater issues around the property, and to develop a concept plan for the highest prioritized project.View Project Details for Developing a Stormwater Master Plan for Timberbrook Condominium, Inc. in Gaithersburg, MD -
2023 (August)Delaware Tree Stewards Pilot Program Evaluation: Findings and Recommendations
In 2023, UMD EFC assisted the Delaware Forest Service (DFS) in evaluating the pilot phase of the Delaware Tree Stewards program, which offered training on tree science, tree maintenance, and tree planting project development, with the goal of equipping volunteers to plant and care for trees in Delaware communities. EFC's program evaluation consisted of a participant survey, focus group, partners strategy session, and a review of program material.View Project Details for Delaware Tree Stewards Pilot Program Evaluation: Findings and Recommendations -
2023 (April)Broadford Lake Revenueshed Preliminary Report
The purpose of this project was to develop a preliminary revenueshed analysis to frame potential avenues to fund or finance projects that address excess phosphorus in Broadford Lake, located in Garrett County, Maryland. Revenuesheds, conceptualized by the University of North Carolina Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC), seek to identify the full range of stakeholders that benefit from a healthy watershed. This approach expands the potential opportunities to implement projects that improve water quality.View Project Details for Broadford Lake Revenueshed Preliminary Report -
2023Chesapeake 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