Thurmont Receives Prestigious Sustainable Maryland Certified Award at Maryland Municipal League

The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland announced that the Town of Thurmont was one of fourteen Maryland municipalities honored at the Sustainable Maryland Awards Ceremony at the Maryland Municipal League’s annual Fall Conference on October 17, 2016, in Solomons, Maryland. Highlights of Thurmont’s accomplishments include:

• Adopted a Sustainable Procurement Policy in 2016 that ensures that town staff considers sustainability when purchasing products and/or services to be utilized within the town’s operations.
• Began an LED street light retrofit program in 2015, which has thus far installed 62 new downtown LED street lights and 30 new subdivision LED street lights.
• Hosted a Farmers Market since 2005.
• Promotes “Thurmont Business Bucks” as part of a “Buy Local” campaign. This program allows residents to purchase “coupons” that can be used at any participating business in town, keeping more money circulating locally.
• An average of 320 households made up of over 1,300 individuals receive food each month from the Thurmont Food Bank.
• Established a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) Ordinance, which details specific characteristics that must be met including building design, street alignments and design, and architectural details.

“I am very proud of the joint resident and municipal effort that has resulted in Thurmont being recognized as a Sustainable Maryland Certified municipality,” said Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird. “I specifically want to thank the Thurmont Green Team for their tireless investment of time, energy and leadership in this worthwhile endeavor.  The projects and initiatives implemented by the Thurmont Green Team has set our town on a course of environmental awareness, renewed our sense of community and most importantly will help insure a healthier and economically viable future for Thurmont’s residents.” “Every year, the Environmental Finance Center is proud to welcome more municipalities to the Sustainable Maryland community,” said Dan Nees, director of the Environmental Finance Center. “The incredible growth of this program demonstrates that so many communities across the state are dedicated to healthier, more sustainable futures. The shared commitment of local elected officials, municipal staff and Green Team volunteers in these diverse towns and cities are a testament to Maryland’s vision of resilience.” (from left) Chief Administrative Officer Jim Humerick, Green Team Assistant Leader Cindy Poole, and Mayor John Kinnaird are shown with the Sustainable Maryland Certified award at the Maryland Municipal League Conference in October.