MD DNR Coastal Community Grants
This program, administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, provides financial and technical assistance to local governments to promote the incorporation of natural resource and/or coastal management (e.g. coastal hazards, public access, water-use activities) issues into local planning and permitting activities. Potential projects include, but are not limited to:
- Modifying ordinances, codes, plans, and programs to support the goals of local watershed plans, Priority Places designation, the Tributary Strategies, coordination of natural resource and water resource elements (implementation of HB 1141) , as well as other existing natural resource management plans
- Updating existing regulations to allow for low impact development
- Developing and implementing new funding mechanisms to preserve and restore natural or cultural resources
- Developing and implementing a shoreline management plan and review and permitting process to strategically look at where non-structural methods can be used
- Streamlining project review processes and building local government capacity to better assess the impacts of various shoreline management options, or improving coordination and sequencing of permitting between agencies
- Revising Critical Area Programs to meet current needs
- Developing protection mechanisms to preserve agricultural and forestland resources using zoning mechanisms including TDRs, minimum lot sizes, etc.
- Developing and institutionalizing a standard permit review system that comprehensively considers a consistent suite of natural resource and coastal issues
- Developing and implementing an urban forest canopy plan
- Developing and adopting a public riparian access plan
MD DNR is a Chesapeake NEMO partner organization. Chesapeake NEMO is available to provide technical assistance and educational outreach programs for certain Coastal Community Initiative Grant projects. Contact NEMO staff for more information. Visit MD DNR Coastal Program for detailed grant application information and deadlines.