Maryland Environmental Trust Now Accepting Grant Applications

Keep Maryland Beautiful program benefits nonprofits, communities

Annapolis, MD (March 4, 2010) — The Maryland Environmental Trust is accepting grant applications for the Keep Maryland Beautiful program from voluntary nonprofit groups or communities for solutions to environmental problems. The grants are part of the Trust’s Keep Maryland Beautiful activities, which are funded by the State Highway Administration, a division of the Maryland Department of Transportation.

The Margaret Rosch Jones Award is given to an ongoing project that has already demonstrated success in solving an environmental issue, whether local or statewide. The award was created in memory of Margaret Jones, the executive director and moving spirit of the Keep Maryland Beautiful program for many years. The Trust looks forward to honoring Ms. Jones qualities of devotion, energy and ingenuity with a group working today to rebuild and enhance their community environment.

The Bill James Environmental Grants are awarded to nonprofit youth groups for new environmental education projects in their community. These grants are given in memory of William S. James, who drafted legislation to create the Maryland Environmental Trust, incorporating the activities of the Governor's Committee to Keep Maryland Beautiful.

To be considered, a project must have:

Application forms with guidance may be obtained at www.dnr.state.md.us/met. Deadline for applications is March 31, 2010.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 467,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov