Salisbury, in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, has awarded $75,000 in grants for environmental projects within the city.

Two local organizations are expected to receive funding for projects thanks to the Outreach and Restoration Grant Program.

The first project awarded with funding this year is the Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake who will receive funding to provide outreach and to train individuals in forming Green Teams and also to produce an action plan for faith-based organizations within the city.

This is the second year that a project was awarded to the Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake and it provides for continuation of efforts that began last year.

The other project awarded with funding is a plan to remove the impervious surface in the parking lot of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Downtown Salisbury.

The impervious surface will be replaced with permeable pavement and native plants will be added. The grant will also provide for environmental outreach at St. Peter’s.

In total, the Chesapeake Bay Trust Outreach and Restoration Program awarded 45 grants totaling more than $1.3 million, which was matched by $2.2 million in funding from the programs’ partners, bringing the total impact to $3.5 million.

As a Program Partner, Salisbury was represented on the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Technical Review Committee by city Director of Infrastructure and Development Amanda Pollack and Sustainability Specialist Alyssa Hastings.

“This program utilizes funds collected through the city’s Storm Water utility,” Pollack said. “The city and the Chesapeake Bay Trust are infusing these funds straight into the community, where they will make an impact on our environment in many ways.”

The city is committed to its obligations under the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Phase II General Permit. This permit states that a municipality must conduct public outreach and education about reducing stormwater runoff and in turn reducing pollutants in our local environment.

Both grants awarded this year address public outreach and education.

“Environmental stewardship is one of Salisbury’s top priorities,” said City Administrator Julia Glanz. “Just a few weeks ago, our City Council adopted recommendations made by the mayor’s Environmental Policy Task Force, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust Grant Partnership is another step toward improving and preserving our local environment for years to come.”