Maryland Energy Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support for Maryland-based organizations to plan and develop resilient energy systems that enhance sustainability and community resilience against climate impacts.

This funding opportunity is designed to support Frederick County farmers and agricultural businesses in expanding or diversifying their operations through investments in essential capital assets.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local businesses and non-profits for community-focused projects that promote public engagement, enhance public spaces, and foster economic growth in Hyattsville.

This grant provides $10,000 to new businesses located in Laurel, Maryland, to help them grow, create jobs, and enhance their operations through various improvements and equipment purchases.

This grant provides financial assistance to businesses in Takoma Park for enhancing their storefronts, promoting a vibrant commercial environment.

The City of Rockville in Maryland is offering a grant of over $1 million to local organizations that provide community services and enrichment programs to residents within the city limits, with applications to be submitted by 10/14/2024.

The Maryland Department of Commerce is offering the Build the Future Grant Pilot Program, providing up to $2 million per fiscal year for innovation infrastructure projects in various technology sectors, with grantees required to provide matching funds and use the grant for costs related to project development, such as construction, installation, and equipment.

Anne Arundel County Government and the Chesapeake Bay Trust announce a partnership to provide funds for forestry projects and land protection in Anne Arundel County. Donor Name: Chesapeake Bay Trust State: Maryland County: Anne Arundel County (MD) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The goal of this program is to implement cost-effective reforestation and greening projects and increase the number of acres of protected forested land in the County. By increasing tree cover and expanding green areas, erosion can be reduced; water and soil quality can be improved; airborne pollutants such as particulates, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide can be filtered; and summer temperatures and resulting ozone pollution and energy use can be reduced. By protecting forested land, valuable ecological services such as habitat, water quality, and flood control can be ensured for the future. What this funds? Reforestation/afforestation of Protected Lands. Permanent protection of Forested Lands. Reforestation/afforestation and Protection of Uneased and Unforested Lands. Eligible Project Tracks Track 1: Reforestation/Afforestation of Protected Lands Funding partners seek reforestation and afforestation projects that provide ecological benefits by establishing, enhancing and/or preserving riparian buffers; creating, enhancing and/or preserve larger contiguous tracts of forest; and/or creating, enhancing, and/or preserving wildlife habitat, including habitat for forest interior dwelling species. Track 2: Permanent Protection of Forested Lands Applicants can apply to purchase, execute, record, and monitor permanent conservation easements to protect, maintain, and preserve existing tree canopy in Anne Arundel County. The permanent conservation easements shall be acquired, held, and maintained by the grantee or by a land trust subcontracted by the grantee. The best projects under this track are those seeking to protect ecologically valuable sites or existing habitats, such as riparian buffers, large contiguously forested tracts, and/or important wildlife habitat. Track 3: Reforestation/Afforestation and Protection of Uneased and Unforested Lands Applicants may request support for reforestation/afforestation projects on land that is not currently under conservation easement or otherwise protected. In such a case, the land must be owned by an individual or entity that will agree to place a permanent conservation easement, deed restriction, or long-term protective agreement for tree planting on the property on which the project is installed and that will protect the tree project. As in Track 2 above, funds for easement costs will be considered as eligible budget request items with the exception that the threshold value for requiring appraisals is $8,800, the NRCS WRP threshold for cropland. As described in Track 2 above, applicants may a) request easement costs below the threshold without incurring an obligation to obtain appraisals, b) request easement costs above the threshold and be responsible for obtaining appraisals as a condition of the award at an expense that will only be reimbursed if the project moves forward, or c) request easement costs above the threshold and supply justification in the form of at least one appraisal. Funding Information Up to $238,000 is currently available for this round of the program. Reimbursement cannot be made for already completed projects. Project Period Projects must be completed within 24 months upon receipt of the award. Requests to extend project completion period will be reviewed and considered on a case-by-case basis. Project Location This program funds projects in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Projects located within the City of Annapolis limits are not eligible for this program. Eligibility Criteria  Anne Arundel County and the Trust welcome requests from the following organizations: Land trusts; Nonprofit entities; Community associations; Service and civic groups, Faith-based organizations; Public agencies; and Public and independent higher educational institutions. For more information, visit Chesapeake Bay Trust.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and community colleges in Maryland that focus on agricultural and forestry education, as well as rural economic and community development initiatives.

In order to better support the businesses, the City of Hyattsville offers a Commercial Façade Improvement Program. Donor Name: City of Hyattsville State: Maryland City: Hyattsville Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/07/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The program provides funding to business or property owners within the three targeted investment areas to improve their building’s façade.  The City of Hyattsville, Maryland, recognizes the positive impact that individual façade improvements can have on the overall appearance, quality, and vitality of the City’s commercial districts. The Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program was created to facilitate the private sector in making these desired exterior improvements. The City of Hyattsville Commercial Façade Improvement Program offers financial assistance to private property or business owners seeking to rehabilitate commercial building facades in the following Target Investment Areas: the West Hyattsville Transit District, the Route One/Gateway Arts District, and the Prince George’s Plaza Transit District. The primary goals of the City of Hyattsville Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program are to remove accessibility barriers, facilitate investment, and achieve significant visual improvements in commercial facade appearance. Projects that meet the primary goals will be preferred. Funding Information The grant is a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of $5,000 – $35,000. Eligible Improvements  Grants will be awarded for well-designed façade improvements that increase the longevity of a building. The funds may be used for specific improvements including: Signage Exterior painting Storefront reconstruction Siding Exterior lighting Window and door upgrades Public-facing masonry or cornices Murals Removal of unattractive exterior finishes Roofs Other uses approved by the Program Eligibility Requirements  Existing structures currently zoned for commercial use and in current commercial use, or planned for commercial use, within the corporate limits of the City of Hyattsville are eligible for the grant. In the event that a building code compliance violation is present, correction of the violation must be made as part of the façade improvement work. Eligible applicants include the owner of a commercial building or the owner of a commercial business. Properties which are vacant at the time of award must tenant the improved space, with a permitted use, within six (6) months of the completion of the façade improvement work. All applications must be signed by the property owner to indicate consent for the proposed improvements. The determination of eligibility and priority for assistance is at the discretion of the City of Hyattsville. Work which qualifies for assistance includes improvements to the exterior of a building which are visible from the public right-of-way. Work must be completed within one year of the grant award notification. For more information, visit City of Hyattsville.

The Town of Chesapeake City is happy to announce that applications are now available to property owners for the Façade Improvement Grant. Donor Name: Town of Chesapeake City State: Maryland City: Chesapeake City Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  05/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Façade Improvement Program supports exterior facade projects to recover and promote the integrity of the buildings and improve the visual characteristics of the community. The Chesapeake City Façade Improvement Program is funded by the State of Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Community Legacy Program. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following list: Fascia and soffit replacement/repair Door and window replacement/repair Porch and step replacement/repair Painting Masonry repair Repointing of Masonry facades Removal of historically inappropriate and/or incompatible exterior features and finishes. Installation of historically appropriate and/or compatible features and finishes. Funding Information The maximum grant award per property is $10,000.00 Eligibility Criteria Property Owner (Applicant) must apply for the grant. Applications must be submitted in person or via U.S. Postal Service. Projects are limited to exterior façade improvements. Applicant must use licensed home improvement contractors for all work. Work involving lead and asbestos removal require MDE certified contractors. A copy of the contractor’s home improvement license/certification(s) must be included with the application. (Business license is not an acceptable substitution.) Applicants are encouraged to provide a contribution toward the project. Contributions can be monetary, materials, and/or labor. (In the instance of material or labor, documentation will be required to verify the contribution value). Applicants that indicate a contribution will be responsible for the amount indicated which will be deducted by the Town of Chesapeake City from monetary disbursement. For more information, visit Town of Chesapeake City.

Launched in 2023, this program aims to enhance Maryland's strategic sectors through innovation infrastructure projects. With $10 million allocated for FY2024, it supports a wide range of technology sectors and is set to run until June 30, 2027. Projects include various infrastructure developments to foster innovation and growth. The Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program and Fund (Fund) is a financing resource operated by the Maryland Department of Commerce (Commerce), to provide grants for innovation infrastructure projects intended to support innovation in an eligible technology sector. In FY24 $10 million is available for grants to transformative projects that accelerate the growth of the state’s strategic industry sectors. Grants may be awarded to private companies, nonprofit entities, local governments, or colleges and universities in the State.