Grow Berlin Green (GBG) is a three-year campaign with initial funding provided from the Town Creek Foundation, a private, philanthropic organization dedicated to a sustainable environment.

 

GBG is a collaborative project between:

Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT) — ACT works to protect and enhance the natural resources of the Atlantic coastal bays watershed through advocacy, conservation, and education.

ACT has a long history of environmental advocacy in the Maryland and Virginia coastal bays region, beginning with its landmark efforts in the early 1970s to preserve the unspoiled character of Assateague Island, which is now protected as a National Seashore. The oldest environmental advocacy organization protecting the coastal bays, ACT has grown to include over 700 members and community partners.

 

Lower Shore Land Trust (LSLT) — LSLT works with individual landowners to protect the natural heritage, rural character and historic landscapes of their properties, ensuring that the character of the land and the quality of life it nourishes will remain intact for the benefit and enjoyment of generations to come.

LSLT offers individual landowners in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties planning assistance on the use of conservation easement or other land conservation techniques to ensure that sufficient lands remain to support forestry and agriculture as viable industries on the Lower Eastern Shore. Formed in 1990 the LSLT has assisted landowners in preserving nearly 15,000 acres of land on the Lower Shore.

 

Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) — Part of the National Estuary Program, the MCBP is a non-profit partnership between the towns of Ocean City and Berlin, the National Park Service, Worcester County, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Agriculture and Planning. 

One of only 28 such programs nationwide, the goal of the MCBP is to protect and enhance the watershed, which includes Ocean City, Ocean Pines and Berlin and Assateague Island National Seashore.

Established in 1987 under the Clean Water Act, the National Estuary Program was developed to protect economically and environmentally sensitive estuaries across the United States by engaging all users.

 

GBG:
Steve Farr, GBG Director, ACT
Anita Ferguson, MCBP
Ken Keffer, LSLT
Kate Patton, LSLT
Kathy Phillips, ACT
Carrie Samis, MCBP
Sandi Smith, ACT
Dave Wilson, MCBP

GBG Community Advisory Board:
Michele Fager, The Atlantic Hotel
Donna Main, Berlin Intermediate School
Ryan Murphy, Go Green Painting and Home Improvements, LLC
James Peddicord, Resident
Troy Purnell, Purnell Properties, Inc. and City Councilperson
Chuck Ward, Planning and Zoning, Town of Berlin