Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC)

• MHEC offers institutional grant programs funded through state, special, and federal funds. These grants address state needs in the areas of economic and workforce development, campus reform, postsecondary education student preparation, faculty and student diversity, and teacher professional development. The grant programs are given to colleges, universities, and trade schools. MHEC also handles student financial aid programs that students apply for by filling out the Free Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). This includes the Federal Pell Grant program in which many Maryland colleges and universities participate.
  
  

Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP)

• Maryland's Department of Human Resources offers grants to help low-income residents with energy bills and to make their residences more energy efficient. Programs available through OHEP include the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), the Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP), the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), and the Utility Service Protection Program (USPP). MEAP helps with home heating and in some instances, replacing broken furnaces. EUSP helps with current electric bills, past due electric bills, and ways to reduce future electric bills. WAP aids with services to make homes more fuel efficient while USPP helps families from having their utilities from being turned off. All these programs have income eligibility requirements.
  
  

Maryland Energy Administration (MEA)

• The MEA helps families, businesses, and state government entities improve their energy efficiency and incorporate sources of renewable energy. They offer grants for residents, businesses, and state and local government agencies and departments. The Clean Energy Grant Program offers financial assistance for installing solar panels, solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, or wind turbines. Another program MEA offers is the EmPower Clean Energy Community Grant. This program aids Maryland counties in funding energy efficiency projects that benefit low-to-moderate income families.
  
  

Considerations

• A good place to keep up with grants in Maryland is the governor's Grants Office. In applying for grants, the two most important things to be aware of are deadlines and following grant application instructions to avoid being eliminated from consideration. Competition for grant money is fierce and funders receive thousands of applications. Following instructions and sending a grant application in on time gives an applicant a better chance at receiving a grant award because at the very least, the application will be read.