Prince George’s County, in Partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Invests Over $400,000 to Strengthen Community Climate Resilience Across 15 Local Projects

Largo, MD - Prince George’s County, Maryland – The Prince George’s County Department of the Environment (DoE) is investing more than $400,000 in 15 community-led projects that will strengthen neighborhood resilience, improve emergency preparedness, expand food security, and help residents better withstand the impacts of severe weather. Through the Community Resilience Hub Grant Program, administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Prince George’s County nonprofits, faith-based organizations, community associations, and County municipalities will establish Resilience Hubs, trusted community-serving facilities that support residents before, during, and after local climate-related events. These Resilience Hubs complement emergency facilities such as cooling and warming centers and shelters by serving as coordination points for communications, distributing resources, building community cohesion, and advancing climate mitigation and adaptation goals year-round.

The grants are made possible by County funding and prioritize community-driven solutions that expand resilience in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by flooding, extreme heat, food insecurity, and other climate-related challenges. 

“Climate resilience begins at the community level,” said Dr. Samuel B. Moki, DoE Director. “Every resident deserves access to the resources, partnerships, and support needed to prepare for and recover from extreme weather. Through our partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, we’re investing in community organizations that already know their neighborhoods, understand local needs, and are helping build a safer, healthier, and more resilient Prince George’s County for everyone.” 

As Prince George’s County experiences more frequent extreme heat, heavier rainfall, and flooding, the County continues investing in neighborhood-based solutions that help residents prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate-related emergencies. These hubs help with everyday community needs during times of disruption and periods of recovery to help Prince Georgians get back on their feet in the quickest and safest way possible. As established in both the Climate Action Plan and Climate Action Implementation Strategy Plan, the hubs will also be part of a future countywide “Resilience Hub Network” that will share resources, leverage expertise, and help ensure the continued resilience of communities throughout Prince George’s County.

Projects include community gardens and food forests, renewable energy planning, resilience education, neighborhood emergency preparedness, outdoor learning spaces, and mobile resilience hubs that will strengthen local response before, during, and after climate emergencies. Since launching in FY26, the program has generated strong interest from community organizations across Prince George’s County, demonstrating growing demand for neighborhood-based resilience investments.

“The Chesapeake Bay Trust is proud to manage this innovative grant program with Prince George’s County that empowers people with resources and services in the face of environmental threats,” said Dr. Jana Davis, president of the Chesapeake Bay Trust. “These community resilience hubs promote the health, safety, and security of our communities and can serve as a model for how we increase community resilience for future generations.”

The inaugural funding round attracted 26 applications requesting nearly $870,000.

The Community Resilience Hub Grant Program 2026 Awardees:

• Town of Cottage City: $40,000 for a local community garden and climate resilience educational workshops. 
• Greenbelt Homes, Inc.: $35,000 for renewable energy storage research and use in a housing cooperative.
• Town of Berwyn Heights: $38,200 for a mobile resilience hub to address community needs during climate-related events. 
• City of Laurel: $20,000 to create an outdoor educational pavilion and educational programming on sustainable behaviors and community preparedness.
• Housing Initiative Partnership: $37,375 to research renewable energy as a source of power for three housing units. 
• St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church: $15,760 for a community resilience hub.
• Langley Park Civic Association: $18,904 to establish a food forest in the Langley Park Community.
• Alice Ferguson Foundation: $12,152 for educational workshops to increase preparedness for climate-related events. 
• Nehemiah Family Worship Center: $23,000 for educational workshops on developing sustainable food production to address food security in Prince George's County communities.
• Wisdom Warriors Inc.: $44,804 to establish a resilience hub site to provide educational workshops; host community engagement events; and provide tools including solar chargers, emergency kits, and printed preparedness guides.
• Fish of Laurel, Inc.: $50,000 to install a permanent commercial solar backup generator system providing at least 30 kilowatts (kW) of electrical power.
• Centro de Apoyo Familiar: $20,000 to establish community resilience hubs serving Prince George's County communities through workshops and training sessions on climate preparedness, environmental stewardship, and community resilience.
• Gethsemane United Methodist Church: $33,000 to support Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system upgrades to efficient, sustainable systems.
• Town of Capitol Heights: $28,500 to establish a resilience hub and develop an outdoor garden space for community resources and programming.
• Town of Bladensburg: $22,000 to establish a resilience hub and provide educational programming and hands-on workshops on sustainable food production.

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About the Chesapeake Bay Trust

The Chesapeake Bay Trust (www.cbtrust.org) envisions a restored and protected Chesapeake Bay watershed and other natural resources in our area, from the Coastal Bays to the Chesapeake to the Youghiogheny River. Every year, the Trust empowers about 400 groups by providing grants and technical assistance to accomplish environmental education, community outreach, and local watershed restoration projects. The Trust is supported by the sale of the Protect the Chesapeake & Coastal Bays license plate; donations to the Chesapeake Bay and Endangered Species Fund on the Maryland State income tax form; donations made by hunters, fishers, and boaters in the Maryland online natural resource licensing system; donations from individuals and corporations; and partnerships with private foundations and federal, state, and local governments such as Prince George’s County. The Trust has received the highest rating from Charity Navigator for over two decades: On average, 90 cents of every dollar go to programs.

 

About Prince George’s County Department of the Environment 
To engage residents in the restoration and protection of the local rivers and streams of Prince George’s County, the Department of the Environment (https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/environment) provides funding for this grant program. The Department of the Environment works for a healthy, beautiful, and sustainable County through programs that provide climate resilience, flood control, clean water, trees, recycling and waste management, litter prevention, animal services, and pet adoption in partnership with residents and other stakeholders.  

 

For more information, contact:
Allyson Wilson, Communications Officer
Department of the Environment
afwilson@co.pg.md.us; (202) 744-3308 (cell)

 

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