​Grants will support community gardens, stormwater management, invasive species removal, and more.

Washington, D.C. (Dec. 12, 2022) – Pepco and Sustainable Maryland have chosen 11 local municipalities, recreational authorities, and nonprofits to receive $125,000 in funds to support open space and resiliency projects across the District of Columbia and Maryland. This funding is made available through Pepco's Sustainable Communities Grant program, which provides funding to support open space preservation, improvements to parks and recreation resources, environmental conservation, and innovative community resiliency projects.

"These are important and impactful projects that will have sustainable impacts on our communities.  We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to support such projects," said Donna Cooper, Pepco region president. "We are committed to helping our customers and communities achieve our collective climate goals, equitably and inclusively. These grants are one of the many ways we are working to foster a cleaner and safer environment for all."

Pepco launched the Sustainable Communities Grant program in 2020.

"This year's group of funded Pepco Sustainable Communities projects represents significant continued progress by municipalities and nonprofits on environmental stewardship and resiliency issues all across the region," said Mike Hunninghake, Sustainable Maryland program manager. "The wide variety of projects selected will provide both tangible improvements to their communities, as well as inspiration and real-world examples for their peers to follow."

This year, Pepco and Sustainable Maryland have awarded grants to the following municipalities, recreational authorities, and nonprofits for resiliency and stewardship:

• My Seniors Keeper (DC): $5,000 - The grant will be used to repair and expand the greening center space for informational sessions and seedling production.
• Upper Marlboro (MD): $5,000 - The grant will be used to purchase three generators to assist with the Emergency Operations and Response Program.
• City of College Park (MD): $10,000 – The grant will be used to fund a pre-design feasibility study of the flood zone, including the identification of natural resources in need of protection and a community workshop.
• City of Mount Rainier (MD): $10,000 - The grant will be used to repair and upgrade the community garden, make it more accessible, re-establish a community tool shed, and create a reliable and sustainable water system.
• City of Takoma Park (MD): $10,000 - The grant will be used to fund the removal of aggressive invasive species and partially cover materials for restoration revegetation.
• Friends of the National Arboretum (DC): $10,000 - The grant will be used to construct two raised garden beds with built-in benches, provide more self-guided interactive learning opportunities, and support volunteer groups.
• Joe's Emporium (MD): $10,000 – The grant will be used to implement a living wall with a green roof made of native plants, a mural, and educational programming.
• Tenleytown Main Street (DC): $10,000 - The grant will be used to fund training on stormwater management, green infrastructure maintenance, and new educational signs to increase environmental awareness and literacy.
• Town of Fairmount Heights (MD): $10,000 - The grant will be used to fund debris, trash, and invasive plant removal, and install a green valley to walk and ride bikes.
• Prince George's County Parks & Rec Foundation (MD): $20,000 – The grant will be used to fund a solar-powered variable message sign to increase public awareness of severe weather events and emergencies.
• Penn Branch Civic Association (DC) $25,000 – The grant will be used to fund emergency management team upgrades, including two-way radios, emergency kits, jackets/t-shirts, training, repaving, and solar lighting in pathways.
  

Pepco's Sustainable Communities Grant program provides grants for projects focusing on open space preservation, improvements to parks and recreation resources, and environmental conservation. The program also provides grants to support resiliency projects that demonstrate innovation in providing a safe and reliable resource for a community during a time of emergency. 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, the University of Maryland, and nonprofit and state agencies will review each application and select the projects to receive funding.

The Sustainable Communities Grant program is part of Pepco's Climate Commitments in the District of Columbia and Maryland, multi-faceted, action-oriented efforts to help the District and Maryland achieve their clean energy and climate goals. As part of the commitment, the company is taking actionable measures to reduce its greenhouse gas footprint and deliver innovative solutions that will empower customers and communities to achieve greater greenhouse gas reduction. The effort supports the broader Path to Clean goal of Pepco's parent company, Exelon, to reduce its operations-driven emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero operations by 2050.  

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

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