Montgomery County’s Open Space Grant Program

Montco Forever Green is Montgomery County’s Open Space Grant Program, launched to support the perpetual preservation of open space across the county. Announced on July 16, 2025, by the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, this program offers financial assistance to the county’s 62 municipalities and qualified nonprofit land conservation organizations. It provides funding for both fee title and conservation easement acquisitions. The initiative is part of the county's broader strategy to expand and preserve open land in accordance with its comprehensive plan, Montco 2040, and is administered by the Montgomery County Planning Commission's Trails and Open Space Section in coordination with the Open Space Board. This program emphasizes the importance of strategic open space preservation, citing benefits such as environmental protection, economic value, and public health. Eligible applicants include all county municipalities and qualified nonprofit land trusts, regardless of their physical location, so long as Montgomery County is part of their operational area. Ineligible entities include private organizations, individuals, authorities, commissions, and school districts. Each grant application must be formally authorized by a resolution of the governing body of the applicant entity. Eligible projects must involve the permanent protection of open land located within Montgomery County, regardless of its size. Open space may include rural, suburban, or urban parcels, water bodies, cultural landscapes, or ecologically sensitive areas. While the program typically requires some form of public access—ranging from trail systems to interpretive signage—exceptions may be made if public access would threaten ecologically sensitive features. In these cases, applicants must justify the lack of access in the application. The maximum grant award under this program is $500,000. A minimum match of 25% of the requested grant amount is required and may come from any source, public or private. Grant funds may only be used for real estate acquisition (either fee title or easement). Project-related costs such as legal fees, appraisals, and surveys can be counted toward the required match but are not eligible for direct reimbursement from the grant itself. Ineligible costs include application preparation, staff salaries, hospitality expenses, and land acquisition costs already completed prior to county approval. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Interested applicants must first submit a Pre-Application Form, after which Montgomery County staff will respond with feedback within ten business days. A complete application includes a project narrative, supporting maps and photos, an appraisal, an agreement of sale (if available), and a funding chart outlining sources and uses. Applications are reviewed by the Open Space Board, which makes recommendations to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Final funding decisions are made via resolution by the Board. Successful applicants must execute a Grant Agreement and record a Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions with the county Recorder of Deeds. The land acquisition must be completed within one year, with possible extensions up to two additional years upon approval. Disbursement of funds occurs either at settlement or as reimbursement, following the submission of required documentation including title reports, settlement sheets, and recorded deeds. All preserved open space must be marked with signage acknowledging the use of county grant funds.

Submit Pre-Application Form early for staff guidance. Ensure all documents including title and appraisal meet current standards. Clearly document match sources.