Sustainable Maryland

SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND space or a writer looking at a blank screen, having an idea is stage one of seemingly infinite possi- bilities. So, how do you start the conversation? INSPIRATION AND COMMUNITY Sustainable Maryland is a certification pro- gram for municipalities in Maryland that want to go green, save money, and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term. Sustain- able Maryland is a collaborative effort between the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the University of Maryland and the Maryland Munic- ipal League to replicate the success of the Sus- tainable Jersey initiative throughout the Mid-At- lantic States. The Environmental Finance Center at the Uni- versity of Maryland is one of ten University-based centers across the country providing communi- ties with the tools and information necessary to manage change for a healthy environment and an enhanced quality of life. EFC believes that environmental finance can be used to develop a shared community vision. “This is something that we came up with col- lectively, here, at the Environmental Finance Center,” says Director, Jen Cotting. “We fleshed out the concept to be two perspectives: community and process. From a community perspective, there was a real need for our communities to have better access and use of resources available to support sustainability efforts. From EFC’s perspec- tive, we were looking at our own programming and sustainability type projects, but also knowing we needed to take a step back and take a look at our processes and our tool developments that we have as a center. “ It was at this point that the group began looking for inspiration. After some research, Jen and her crew came across Sustainable Jersey, a non-profit organization that provides tools, train- ing, and financial incentives to support commu- nities as they pursue sustainability programs. It walked them through the operational best prac- tices in fostering a sustainability outreach/educa- tion program. “The Sustainable Jersey program has a really great model,” says Cotting. “They were willing to mentor us in modelling a Sustainable Maryland program, to not only help the community better navigate the resources that are available, but also to launch a certification program and get some acknowledgement and credit for the good work the community is already doing.” As the certification and branding launched in 2012, along with it came what would be the de- fining force of Sustainable Maryland. CONNECTING PASSION WITH COMMUNITY Mike Hunninghake and Brandy Espinola, Sus- tainable Maryland’s Program Managers, would be the final puzzle pieces in the launch of Sus- tainable Maryland. And with the launch, came a simultaneous opening of the floodgates for communities in Maryland to finally, and effective-