Clean Water Montgomery Grant Program

The Clean Water Montgomery Grant Program, funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, aims to enhance water quality in Montgomery County through community engagement and innovative projects. Grants support watershed restoration, public outreach, and litter reduction, with funding levels ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 depending on the project type. While matching funds are encouraged for most projects, they are mandatory for permeable paver installations. This initiative fosters sustainable behavior change and encourages creative proposals.

Register here.
The Montgomery County Government and the Chesapeake Bay Trust announce a grant program to support watershed restoration and outreach projects throughout Montgomery County. This program aims to promote initiatives and projects which will improve water quality in Montgomery County’s local streams and waterways through public engagement, education, and on-the-ground restoration.
What this funds:
The Clean Water Montgomery Grant Program funds public outreach and stewardship projects, community-based restoration water quality implementation projects, tree planting and reforestation projects, and litter reduction projects in the Anacostia River Watershed. Projects should educate and engage residents in watershed improvement while achieving measurable impacts and sustainable behavior change. Creative and innovative proposals are encouraged. Together, these efforts will restore and protect the local rivers and streams of Montgomery County.
How much can be awarded:
Requests will generally not exceed $40,000 for knowledge change, $60,000 for behavior change efforts, and $40,000 for water quality monitoring efforts as part of the Public Outreach and Stewardship (Type 1) projects, $25,000 for community greening efforts and $100,000 for larger scale restoration efforts as part of the Community Based Restoration Implementation (Type 2) projects, $100,000 for Tree, Stewardship, Planting, and Reforestation projects (Type 3) projects, and $50,000 for Litter Reduction Projects in the Anacostia River Watershed (Type 4) projects.
Is match required?
Match is encouraged but is not required other than for permeable paver installation. For permeable paver installation projects, the budget should include a 20% match from the property owner or entity receiving the permeable paver installation, which may or may not be the applicant organization. Preference will be given to projects with match and/or in-kind services.