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
2024 Annual Report
The Environmental Finance Center worked with communities big and small, rural and urban, red and blue throughout the Mid-Atlantic to advance locally identified environmental priorities.
Mid-Atlantic Sustainable Breweries
UMD EFC’s 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.
Designing a Resilience Action Plan for Maryland’s Coastal Communities
As Maryland’s coastal communities face increasing climate threats, including rising sea levels and severe storms, this initiative aims to strengthen the resilience of eight vulnerable coastal jurisdictions.
Building Climate Resilience in Prince George's County, MD
The Climate Wise Academy aims to strengthen climate resilience in Prince George’s County, Maryland. This program supports local climate preparedness through training and capacity building for Green Teams and community members. The project will enhance local climate resilience by developing a comprehensive climate-specific training curriculum and toolkit.
EFC Projects and Publications
See EFC’s work in action by browsing our current and archived (completed) projects below.
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2021 - 2024Staying Afloat: Assessing the long-term financial impacts of sea level rise adaptation solutions in a historic coastal community
In partnership with The Nature Conservancy and George Mason University, the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) worked to provide rural communities with the tools and data necessary to make financially and socially responsible decisions for adapting to climate-induced flooding from sea level rise, storms, and precipitation. View Project Details for Staying Afloat: Assessing the long-term financial impacts of sea level rise adaptation solutions in a historic coastal community -
2021 - 2022Emmitsburg Phase I Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study
The Environmental Finance Center assisted the Town of Emmitsburg, MD in developing a sufficient, sustained, and equitable financing strategy for stormwater management.The Town is required to comply with a Phase II National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for discharges from small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4). As a result of evaluating potential future budget solutions, the Town is considering a stormwater utility as a viable alternative to funding its stormwater management program services.View Project Details for Emmitsburg Phase I Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study -
2021 (September)An Analysis of Current Water Infrastructure Financing in Pennsylvania
Report authored by the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland and the Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania.Project funders:The Campbell FoundationThe Heinz EndowmentsWilliam Penn FoundationAttachmentsView Project Details for An Analysis of Current Water Infrastructure Financing in Pennsylvania -
2021 (June)Community-Centered Natural Resource Benefits Valuation: Mispillion Watershed, Delaware
Over the last century, the Mispillion watershed, which includes the City of Milford and Slaughter Beach, Delaware, has experienced considerable losses in forests and wetlands. Residents describe the remaining Mispillion watershed marshes as “pristine” and “unique”. The watershed contains significantly protected lands, is bordered by National Wildlife Refuges, and contains internationally recognized flyways for migrating birds, including the endangered Red Knot.View Project Details for Community-Centered Natural Resource Benefits Valuation: Mispillion Watershed, Delaware -
2021 (June)Ecotourism and Resilience Investment Strategy for the Mispillion and Cedar Creek Watersheds Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware
The state of Delaware is in the midst of explosive population growth and development at a time when it faces increasing risks of flooding from sea level rise and climate change. A coalition of partner organizations called the Waterways Infrastructure and Investment Network (WIIN) recognized that natural infrastructure (in the form of wetlands, rivers, creeks, open space, and bay beaches) provide a multitude of benefits that can mitigate some of the impacts of climate change while contributing to biodiversity, community way of life, and the economic health of the region.View Project Details for Ecotourism and Resilience Investment Strategy for the Mispillion and Cedar Creek Watersheds Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware -
2021Analyzing Anacostia Watershed Litter Survey Data
Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay ProgramView Project Details for Analyzing Anacostia Watershed Litter Survey Data