The Howard County Government’s Office of Community Sustainability is now accepting applications for the 2025 Plastics Reduction and Environmental Protection (PREP) Grant. Funded through the county’s Disposable Plastics Reduction Fund—which collects revenue from a 5-cent plastic bag fee—PREP grants support environmental nonprofit initiatives that align with the county’s climate and sustainability goals. These funds are reinvested into the community to promote education, action, and innovation in reducing single-use plastics and protecting the environment.

PREP grant year five (2025) will fund projects that advance strategies and actions outlined in Climate Forward: Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, the county’s guiding document for sustainable development and environmental stewardship. While the program remains open to a wide range of environmental projects, emphasis is placed on public education about the benefits of reducing disposable plastics and implementing sustainable alternatives.

The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on April 30, 2025. All projects must take place within Howard County, Maryland, and applicants must be in good standing with the State of Maryland. Interested applicants can submit questions about the grant to jacooper@howardcountymd.gov.

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, homeowners and community associations, youth and civic groups, and public or independent educational institutions. The grant supports community-based initiatives such as educational campaigns, infrastructure for composting and recycling, and public clean-up events, among others.

Over the program’s first four years (2021–2024), 48 projects have been funded, totaling over $1.47 million in investments toward local environmental sustainability efforts. Applications and detailed instructions are available through the Howard County website.