2025 - Present
Supporting Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay's Morgan State Planning Fellowship Program
With support from the Region 3 Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay launched a yearlong graduate fellowship with Morgan State University’s School of Architecture & Planning. Fellows are placed with partner municipalities to lead public outreach and engagement on pre-identified environmental priorities, culminating in an implementation-ready community plan.This initiative aims to:
2026 April
2025 EFC Annual Report
Dear Friends and Supporters,The Environmental Finance Center entered 2025 with hope in our hearts in the face of uncertainty. We learned a great deal about the spirit and tenacity of our team, our partners, and our profession. And, as we dared to dream just one year ago, we have seen that hope transform into action.
2023 - Present
Equitable Landscaping - Green Infrastructure Training for Latino Landscape Professionals
The Equitable Landscaping project focuses on providing culturally appropriate, Spanish-language training on stormwater runoff and green infrastructure skills to first-generation, Spanish-speaking Latino landscapers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This project aims to address the lack of specialized training certificates available for Latino landscapers in the region, empowering these underrepresented and under-resourced professionals to gain knowledge and skills crucial to sustainable landscaping.
2024 - Present
Supporting Maryland’s Local Governments to Take Climate Action
To meet Maryland’s nation-leading greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals of net-zero emissions by 2045, the State of Maryland has committed to delivering state-wide and economy-wide climate pollution reduction plans under the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) for Planning.
2024 - Present
Baltimore Greater Regional Environmental Equity Network
EFC is serving as the Network Coordinator for the Baltimore Greater Regional Environmental Equity Network (BGREEN). This work builds on EFC’s experience facilitating collaboratives and working with community-based organizations focused on environmental justice issues in the Baltimore region. BGREEN is a coalition of partners with the shared interest of building community and institutional capacity by creating resilient, equitable, and sustainable communities through nature-based work.
2009 - Present
Climate Action Planning and Greenhouse Gas Inventories
EFC provides technical support in developing greenhouse gas inventories and climate action planning to University of Maryland System institutions. Previous and current work includes the University of Maryland Global Campus, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Maryland College Park, The Universities at Shady Grove, and Towson University. EFC helps calculate campus carbon emissions, assists in developing carbon reduction strategies, and develops basic cost calculations for prioritizing strategies.
2014 - Present
Training and Technical Assistance for Small Public Water and Wastewater Systems
The Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) provides training and technical assistance to small public water and wastewater systems in rural and urban communities and to tribally-owned and -operated systems throughout the U.S. The EFCN works to expand and enhance the capacity of these systems to address their technical, managerial, and financial needs and achieve long-term sustainability and resiliency.
2020 - Present
Residential Action Framework & Stormwater Outreach Campaign, City of Gaithersburg, MD
Through its Sustainable Maryland program, EFC is working with homeowners and civic associations (HOAs/CAs) in the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland. This education effort aims to increase awareness about natural resources and watershed protection issues; increase the rate of residential participation in sustainability efforts; and engage the leadership and residents of HOAs/CAs in the implementation of sustainability and watershed protection activities.
2024 (October)
Requests for Proposals: When to Dive In and When to Pass on Grants
This interactive tool will help users determine whether or not a grant is a good fit for your organization or project idea.AuthorMichelle KokolisPublication DateOctober 2024LinksRequests for Proposals: When to Dive In and When to Pass on GrantsAttachments
2023 - Present
Region 3 Water Technical Assistance (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. This assistance is provided at no cost to recipients, through an award from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Assistance is available based on community need and team capacity.Services include assistance identifying water challenges; developing plans; building technical, financial, and managerial capacity; and completing funding application materials (see graphic below).