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Montgomery County launches 'Montco Forever Green' open‑space grant program with $2 million initial funding
Summary
Planning staff unveiled a formal, countywide open‑space grant program offering up to $500,000 per award and a minimum 25% match; applications will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning Sept. 1.
Montgomery County planning staff introduced Montco Forever Green on July 16, a new formal open‑space grant program that will provide county capital funds to preserve land in perpetuity across urban, suburban and rural parts of the county.
Bill Hartman, the county’s trails and open-space planning manager, told the Board of Commissioners the program will expand the county’s definition of open space to include small urban green parcels and community gardens in addition to larger tracts of natural land. "Forever is a nod to the notion of perpetuity... and green, of course, talks about green spaces and open space," Hartman said during the presentation.
Key program elements announced include an initial capital allocation of approximately $2,000,000; grants up to $500,000; a reduced minimum match of 25% (down from the historical 1:1 requirement); and a rolling application process to allow responses to urgent, at‑risk parcels. Eligible applicants include all 62 Montgomery County municipalities and conservation nonprofits. The planning team said public access or stewardship arrangements will be required because these are public funds.
Hartman and staff said applications will be marketed to municipal managers and conservation partners, supported by a guidebook and a web page launching in the coming days. The program was presented earlier to the county Open Space Board (June 25) and the planning commission (July 9); staff said applications will be available beginning Sept. 1 and that the county will aim to provide initial feedback on applications within 10 business days.
Commissioners and attendees asked operational questions about who would ultimately own properties, how multiple funding sources would be blended, and whether municipalities routinely have open space reserves. Staff said ownership depends on the project — municipalities often own purchased land while land trusts can hold conservation easements — and that projects typically include multiple funding partners (municipal contributions, state sources, private donations and foundations) so county funds are rarely the sole source.
Commissioner Dulce (public speaker during Q&A) noted the county previously used a low match requirement to encourage broader participation; planning staff said the 25% minimum is intended to make projects feasible for municipalities without large budgets. Hartman said the county will monitor demand and calibrate the program after the initial round of awards.
