The objective of this project was to provide the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Chesapeake and Coastal Service (CCS) with a strategy for incentivizing local efforts to revitalize working waterfront communities and economies throughout the state. Specifically, the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center (EFC) was charged with providing CCS staff with a framework for incentivizing and facilitating local investments into working waterfront restoration and protection efforts. EFC’s objective with this project was twofold: 1) identify opportunities for state leaders to employ innovative financing policies and tools in support of local working waterfront initiatives; and, 2) provide the Department of Natural Resources Chesapeake and Coastal Services Program with a recommended structure for establishing a working waterfronts program within the agency. This report provides a summary of the issues at play and a recommended structure for making a potential program successful.
For more information, please contact Jen Cotting at jcotting@umd.edu.