| Green Fields/Green Towns Application Deadline Extended |
Montgomery County Commissioners adopted the Green Fields/Green Towns Open Space Program on December 18, 2003. This ten-year, $150 million program was approved by the Montgomery County citizens in November 2003. The Green Fields/Green Towns Program is made up of three basic components: municipal grants ($67 million), private organization grants ($8 million), and county open space expenditures ($75 million).
The Green Fields/Green Towns Program established an allocation of funding for each municipality in Montgomery County based on population. The initial funding round commenced on April 1, 2004, and will now end on April 1, 2009. On February 21, 2008 the County Commissioners amended the Green Fields/ Green Towns Program guidelines to extend this date one year from April 1, 2008 to April 1 2009. This extension was established to encourage municipalities to develop good plans and applications for implementation as soon as possible. All grant applications received before April 1, 2009, will be reviewed under Round I guidelines.
After April 1, 2009, all remaining grant funds, including planning grant funds, will be made available to all municipalities for additional open space acquisition and green infrastructure projects that are consistent with the municipal open space plans. The approval of grants under this second round of funding will be competitive. The Montgomery County Open Space Board will review all applications in accordance with a process that it will establish. The board will make recommendations based upon its judgment of which projects best meet the goals of both municipal plans and the county open space plan. For further information, contact Devan Stewart at 610.278.3743.
All sixty-two of Montgomery County’s municipalities have approved open space plans formally adopted by the Open Space Board. With your approved open space plan, you have a blueprint for project selection at your fingertips. County, local non-profit organizations and regional consultants are ready and willing to provide guidance and expertise to help you develop your projects. Contact your municipality to obtain a copy of the open space plan for your community.
Click here to see how your municipality has participated in Green Field/Green Towns.
The recharged Montgomery County Open Space program – Green Fields/Green Towns has energized planning in Montgomery County communities.