Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Grant Program

The Chesapeake Bay Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Grant Program for FY25 is a funding initiative coordinated by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region III, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. The Chesapeake Bay Trust, a nonprofit grant-making entity founded in 1985 and headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, is committed to improving the environmental health and quality of life in the Chesapeake Bay watershed through the distribution of grants to municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and community groups. Since its inception, the Trust has awarded over $190 million in grants throughout the watershed. The G3 Grant Program continues this mission by promoting green stormwater infrastructure and expanding green space in urban environments to improve water quality, support community development, and mitigate stormwater impacts. The G3 Program offers funding for six distinct project tracks: Track 1 funds conceptual plans for green infrastructure projects with awards up to $20,000; Track 2 funds engineered designs up to $35,000; Track 3 supports construction and implementation of green streets and large-scale green infrastructure projects up to $175,000; Track 4 funds community greening efforts such as tree planting and conservation landscaping up to $50,000; Track 5 supports the creation of white papers and tools on green infrastructure topics up to $20,000; and Track 6 offers technical assistance for green street planning and charrettes, though it does not provide direct funding. Approximately $1.3 million in total funding is available for FY25. Funding must be used for project elements specifically related to green infrastructure, and not for regulatory compliance or required redevelopment mitigation. Eligible applicants include local governments, nonprofit organizations, community and homeowner associations, and faith-based organizations. All applicants must carry liability insurance for the project’s duration. Projects must be located in the Chesapeake Bay watershed portions of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, or Virginia. Applicants are encouraged to contact program staff at least two weeks before the application deadline for assistance or site visits, and new or capacity-constrained applicants are especially encouraged to reach out for help navigating the application process. Applications must be submitted through the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s online system by 4:00 PM Eastern Time on March 10, 2025. Track 6 applicants should request $0 since technical assistance is arranged directly by the Trust. Applicants are required to complete an eligibility quiz, provide detailed applicant information, upload narrative responses tailored to the specific project track, and submit budget justifications using the Financial Management Spreadsheet. Evaluation criteria include project justification, likelihood of success, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, infrastructure integration, resiliency, community need, and replicability. Projects must be completed within 12 months of receiving the award, and recipients must comply with federal employment and nondiscrimination laws. Award notifications will be issued in June 2025. Ten percent of the total award is withheld until final reports are approved. Applicants are expected to submit documentation of expenditures including receipts and timesheets. Failure to comply with reporting requirements may lead to cancellation of the award. Technical assistance resources and tools such as soil data maps, planting guides, and stormwater calculators are available to applicants via the Trust’s website. For more information or assistance, applicants may contact Megan Diehl, Senior Program Officer at 410-974-2941 ext. 139 or by email at mdiehl@cbtrust.org. The official Request for Proposals was released on December 9, 2024, and was last edited on March 17, 2025. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply well before the deadline to avoid technical issues and ensure adequate support from the Trust.