2020 Maryland Sustainable Growth Awards
The commission thanks all those nominations submitted for the 2020 Sustainable Growth Awards. This is the eighth annual recognition of sustainable growth awards by the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission. The process for this year’s awards began back in July 2019 with a broad outreach effort for nominations in the three categories of Growth Awards:
The Leadership and Service Award is presented to individuals and organizations for leadership and service that advance the public’s appreciation, understanding and/or involvement in promoting smart growth and sustainable communities at the local, regional, or state level.
The Smart Growth Community Award is presented to public or private projects that demonstrate outstanding achievement and serve as examples of smart growth that should be emulated throughout the state.
The Preservation / Conservation Award is presented to individuals and organizations for their accomplishments in protecting or improving farms, forests, natural resources, and the waters of Maryland.
A total of 14 nominations were received this year in the three categories from all parts of the state. Both public and private sector projects were nominated. Collectively, these nominations demonstrate and reaffirm Maryland’s role as a national leader in land planning, resource conservation and sustainability. The six 2020 Growth Awards were presented at the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission's virtual meeting on October 5 at 1 pm.
Prior year's award recipients
Established by the Maryland General Assembly in 2010, the Sustainable Growth Commission makes recommendations on growth and development issues and celebrates smart growth achievements with an annual awards program. The commission operates under a specific
statutory charge.
Commission members, who represent local and state government, business and nonprofit organization sectors, consider ways to help implement laws and regulations concerning Maryland’s growth and development. By studying current land use policies and their impact on growth, the Commission:
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identifies regional growth and development issues for the Governor's Smart Growth Subcabinet - recommends ways to collaborate on planning between state agencies and local governments and coordinate growth and development among jurisdictions
- reviews statewide efforts to implement the state growth plan and the state plans for transportation and housing
- advises on the local impacts of state policies and laws, such as the 2012 Septic Law, the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP), and stormwater management requirements.
Annually, the commission reports on its activities and recommendations to the governor and other top state government officials. Learn more about the Commission’s structure and responsibilities.
USDA Inspected Livestock Processing Facilities in Maryland
The Growth Commission's Rural Economies Workgroup has published a map and directory of USDA inspected facilities in Maryland that process live beef cows, swine, and lamb. Learn about the workgroup and download the brochure here.
Background
In 2010, the Maryland General Assembly
established the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission, replacing the Task Force on the Future for Growth and Development, which ran from 2007-2010. The Commission was made a permanent body to advise on growth and development issues.
Prior to the creation of the task force in 2007, there was no statewide forum where stakeholders could discuss growth and development issues and policies. The former Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Commission, which was created by the 1992 Growth Act, was allowed to sunset in 2003. The creation of a permanent Commission creates a broader and more established forum to consider and make recommendations on growth and development issues.
2019-2020 Sustainable Growth Challenge
The Sustainable Growth Challenge, an annual collegiate competition hosted by the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission, engages students from across the state in planning, sustainability and reinvestment issues. Learn more and enter the challenge
here.
