Southern Maryland organizations in Calvert and Charles counties have secured funding through the Maryland Environmental Trust’s Keep Maryland Beautiful grants program for 2026, part of 21 statewide awards totaling $205,134 to advance community cleanup, environmental stewardship, tree planting, and conservation efforts.
The program, marking 40 consecutive years of grantmaking since 1987, supports projects that protect Maryland’s natural resources. Grants come from the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), and Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), with administration by the Chesapeake Bay Trust on behalf of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
In Calvert County, the American Chestnut Land Trust receives a Land Trust Assistance grant to build organizational capacity, support community programming, and foster innovation in land conservation. Greg Bowen, representing the same land trust, earns the $5,000 Aileen Hughes Grant for outstanding leadership and innovation in conservation, honoring the late Aileen Hughes, former president of the trust and a key figure in Maryland’s conservation movement.
In Charles County, the Conservancy for Charles County secures a Land Trust Assistance grant to enhance capacity and connectivity among land trusts. The Historical Society of Charles County obtains a Community Stewardship grant to promote environmental education, engagement, and greening projects that address local issues.
These Southern Maryland recipients align with broader grant categories: six Land Trust Assistance grants ($55,000 total, funded by MDOT and MET), honoring Janice Hollmann’s legacy in land trust founding; 11 Community Stewardship grants ($47,000 total, funded by MDOT and MET) for schools, nonprofits, and organizations; two Tree Planting on Agricultural Lands grants ($98,134 total, funded by MDA) to advance the state’s goal of 5 million native trees by 2031; and the single Aileen Hughes Grant.
Statewide, awards reach groups in nine counties and Baltimore City, emphasizing local action from students to land trusts. DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz highlighted the collaborative impact: “The community work being supported through this program shows that every contribution matters when it comes to protecting our natural resources. The Keep Maryland Beautiful grants are a testament to the work and collaboration among our funding partners and longstanding supporters who invest in the program year after year.”
MET Director John Turgeon added: “Thank you to our partners for their unwavering support of the Keep Maryland Beautiful grants program. These small but mighty grants help invest in our local nonprofits, communities, and land trusts that protect and care for Maryland’s natural resources.”
Chesapeake Bay Trust President Dr. Jana Davis noted: “The Keep Maryland Beautiful grant program empowers people across the state to lead local projects for their communities. We are proud to administer this program that engages a wide range of local groups, from students to land trusts to civic organizations, to enhance natural spaces, strengthen neighborhoods, and inspire continued stewardship for the people and places that make Maryland special.”
The grants reflect priorities in Southern Maryland’s rural and natural landscapes, where land trusts like the American Chestnut Land Trust preserve forests, wetlands, and habitats vital to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Community stewardship efforts support education and engagement, while capacity-building strengthens long-term conservation in areas balancing growth and preservation.
The program traces to MET’s 1967 origins, with Chesapeake Bay Trust administration starting in 2023. Awards encourage grassroots involvement in maintaining clean, healthy environments across the region.