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$125,000 in grants are now available for open space, environmental and resiliency projects.

Washington D.C. (July 21, 2022) – Pepco is offering grants to municipalities, recreational authorities and nonprofits for projects focusing on open space preservation, improvements to parks and recreation resources, and environmental conservation. The company's Sustainable Communities Grant Program, which was launched in 2020 and is facilitated by Sustainable Maryland, provides $125,000 in grants annually to fund open space and environmental projects and resiliency projects across the company's District of Columbia and Maryland service area. The grant request period runs through September 20, 2022. 

The program will provide $75,000 in grants of up to $10,000 each for projects focusing on open space preservation, improvements to parks and recreation resources, and environmental conservation. Projects include the development of recreation trails, the purchase of open space, and the planting of trees and other vegetation. The program also will provide grants, totaling $50,000, to support resiliency projects that demonstrate innovation in providing a safe and reliable resource for a community during a time of emergency.

"We have a vested interest in the wellbeing and the success of all of the communities that we are privileged to serve, and this program is a wonderful way for us to support projects in our communities that, unfortunately, otherwise may not move forward," said Donna Cooper, Pepco region president. "We are very pleased to collaborate with our partner, Sustainable Maryland, to extend the awareness and benefits of this program across our District of Columbia and Maryland communities."

"The mission of our organization is to empower communities in their efforts to become more sustainable and resilient places," said Mike Hunninghake, Sustainable Maryland program manager. "The Pepco Sustainable Communities grants are an excellent resource that we are pleased to be able to connect communities with, in the effort to implement critical, on-the-ground projects with lasting benefits."

Sustainable Maryland will hold a webinar for municipalities and organizations to learn more about the program and how to apply on August 2, 2022, at 1 p.m. Additional information, regarding the webinar, is available at bit.ly/PepcoSustainableGrants or by calling 301-405-7956.

In 2021, the Sustainable Communities Grant Program supported 11 local projects, including planting trees at Riverfront Park in Laurel, MD, improvements to the Landover Hills Forest Trail, support for The Well at Oxon Run urban garden recently opened in Ward 8 in the District, and support for the OMG Climate Resilience Project, which engages and educates at-risk communities of color by creating an assessment tool and a community-driven action plan that addresses climate change vulnerability.

Municipalities, recreational authorities and nonprofits in the Pepco service area can apply for a Sustainable Communities grant each year. A committee with representatives from Pepco, Sustainable Maryland, and other local agencies and conservation organizations will review each application and select the projects to receive funding.

For Pepco and its parent company Exelon, diversity, equity and inclusion is a core foundational value both in the workplace and in outreach to the people it serves. We strongly encourage organizations focused on supporting under-resourced communities to apply for the Sustainable Communities grant.

Interested organizations can learn more about the Sustainable Communities Grant Program and how to submit a grant request at pepco.com/SustainableCommunities

To learn more about Pepco, visit The Source, our online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting pepco.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/PepcoConnect and on Twitter at twitter.com/PepcoConnect. Pepco's mobile app is available at pepco.com/MobileApp.