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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2021Seeking Stormwater Solutions: Getting the MOST for Local Leaders
The Environmental Finance Center in partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay planned and implemented a virtual training program for local governments using on-demand courses from the MOST Center, facilitated peer-to-peer discussion forums, and matchmaking with local watershed groups and technical service providers. Three pilot-scale cohorts in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, engaged 30 participants from 15 local governments throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.View Project Details for Seeking Stormwater Solutions: Getting the MOST for Local Leaders -
2020 - 2024Nature in Urban Planning for Better Human Health
Urban planning, public health, and nature are intricately connected. Studies show that exposure to natural environments can reduce stress, improve mental health, increase social cohesion, and promote physical activity – all of which can attribute to positive health outcomes. Understanding the specific elements of nature experiences and their health benefits is crucial for tailoring urban planning efforts to meet community and public health goals.View Project Details for Nature in Urban Planning for Better Human Health -
2020 - 2022Resilience Financing for Maryland Local Governments
EFC partnered with the Maryland Forestry Foundation to develop an action framework and community engagement series to support Resilience Financing for Maryland Local Governments. This capacity building and education effort was designed to help local governments build resilience into their communities, particularly in the form of natural capital. Natural capital is the extension of the economic notion of capital (manufactured means of production) to goods and services relating to the natural environment.View Project Details for Resilience Financing for Maryland Local Governments -
2020Financing Urban Tree Canopy Programs
EFC partnered with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to develop Financing Urban Tree Canopy Programs: Guidebook for Local Governments in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This resource is the result of a year-long collaboration between EFC and the Alliance, along with additional partners including the USDA Forest Service, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), and the Chesapeake Bay Program Forestry Workgroup. It draws on input from representatives of local and state government from every jurisdiction in the Bay Watershed.View Project Details for Financing Urban Tree Canopy Programs -
2019 - 2022Getting the MOST for Maryland Black Mayors
EFC, in partnership with Maryland Black Mayors, Inc. (MBM) created a training program to educate and better connect MBM elected officials and staff with stormwater management solutions. The training program includes in-person workshops, MOST Center online courses, facilitated peer-to-peer discussion forums, and matchmaking with local watershed groups and technical service providers.View Project Details for Getting the MOST for Maryland Black Mayors -
2018 (January)Advancing Resilience-Supportive Economic Development on Virginia’s Eastern Shore
Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay ProgramView Project Details for Advancing Resilience-Supportive Economic Development on Virginia’s Eastern Shore