Delmarva Power Sustainable Communities Grant Program
Sustainable Maryland, in partnership with Delmarva Power, will offer Sustainable Communities Grant awards to eligible municipalities and nonprofit organizations. This program will provide $30,000 support to fund environmental stewardship projects and $15,000 for community resilience projects across the Delmarva Power service area in Maryland and Delaware.
Requests for Sustainable Communities Grant awards will be accepted April 22 - July 16, 2025.
2025 Grant Program
Environmental Stewardship (awards up to $10,000 – up to 3 awards expected)
Open space is a vital factor in quality of life in Maryland and Delaware. With both states facing an increased number and worsening of climate stressors, continued protection and enhancement of natural areas is a critical priority in building resilient communities. These projects will enhance resiliency in the region by stewarding open space and protected lands that improve water quality, reduce urban heat island effects, and provide critical social benefits such as public health, a sense of place, and community connections. Projects should align with existing climate resiliency strategies or land management plans, such as the Delaware Climate Action Plan, Maryland’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan, Maryland’s Priority Climate Action Plan, or plans for management of protected areas.
Eligible activities can include: conservation; pollution prevention; community engagement; developing or updating open space plans; improving applicant-owned open spaces such as meadows, woodlands, and riparian buffers or capital improvements for passive recreation such as installing recreation trails, boardwalks, informational kiosks, and observation platforms; acquisition of parcels of land to be used for open space; and acquisition of conservation easements.
Community Resiliency (awards up to $15,000 – up to 1 award expected)
While Maryland and Delaware are celebrated for their rich diversity, many communities within these states continue to experience socioeconomic disparities that limit access to environmental and social benefits, such as cleaner air and cooler neighborhoods. These projects aim to produce innovative solutions that provide safe and reliable resources to communities, minimizing environmental impacts during emergencies. Projects should align with local or regional resiliency or emergency planning efforts.
Eligible activities include implementation of strategies to minimize the impact of severe weather events, natural disasters or other emergencies impacting the environment; emergency operations planning, training, and community outreach; and purchase of supplies and equipment needed to respond to emergencies including energy storage and stationary or mobile solar
2025 Delmarva Power Sustainable Communities Grant Program:
Request for Proposals
Register Here for an Overview Webinar, May 14th, 2:30 -3:30 pm
Application Opens April 22!
Previous awardees:
All questions regarding the Delmarva Power Sustainable Communities Grants Program should be directed to SMGrants@umd.edu.