Pepco and Sustainable Maryland announced Friday the 10 recipients of the 2024 Sustainable Communities Grants Program, a key initiative dedicated to investing in the D.C. region’s future.
With a total of $125,000 in one-time grants, the program supports projects across the District and Maryland that preserve the environment and improve parks by restoring native pollinator species and increase access to essential resources like local produce and emergency medical equipment.
“Pepco is a proud environmental steward, and we’re committed to giving communities and nonprofits in the District and Maryland, the tools and resources they need to turn our shared climate goals into reality,” said Valencia McClure, Pepco Region president. “The more we invest in sustainable projects, the closer we get to creating a cleaner, brighter future and enhancing the quality of life in our communities for everyone.”
Since its launch in 2020, the program has invested $600,000 in grants to support environmental, open space and resiliency efforts in the communities where Pepco serves.
“These grants allow our awardees to proactively address environmental challenges with projects they would not otherwise be able to take on,” said Jen Cotting, director of the Environmental Finance Center.
The recipients are:
- Town of Colmar Manor ($10,000) – The grant will support volunteers in removing invasive species from the local Dueling Creek.
- Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek ($10,000) – The grant will create a sustainable community meadow in Cheverly using native pollinator species.
- Friends of the National Arboretum ($10,000) – The grant will improve the visitor experience and education at the Washington Youth Garden located in the grounds of the US National Arboretum.
- City of New Carrollton ($10,000) – The grant will fund a stormwater management project that integrates a combination of nature-based and gray infrastructure solutions for a local field in town.
- Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation Foundation ($10,000) – The grant will support two seasons of a farmer’s market, providing access to local produce for underserved communities in the area.
- Town of Washington Grove ($10,000) – The grant will fund a restoration project for the town meadow, focused on planting and restoring native pollinator species.
- Joe’s Movement Emporium ($10,000) – The grant will support a GreenWorks ecosystem restoration project in partnership with seven local communities to improve their tree canopy for a healthier environment.
- Town of Berwyn Heights ($5,000) – The grant will enable the purchase of emergency medical equipment for use in disaster response efforts.
- DowntownDC Foundation ($25,000) – The grant will fund solar-powered kiosks in downtown D.C. parks, offering charging stations for visitors that feature planters to improve air quality in the area.
- Gift Legacy Foundation ($25,000) – The grant will transform a storage container into an off-grid environmental agriculture education classroom for local community members and students.
The program supports municipalities, recreational authorities, and nonprofits in the Pepco service area and can apply for a Sustainable Communities grant each year.