​​​The Maryland Department of Natural Resource's (DNR) Chesapeake and Coastal Service (CCS) has partnered with the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the University of Maryland to conduct a working waterfront analysis for the State of Maryland, and to showcase how a sustainable working waterfront program can be applied using the City of Cambridge as a case study.

The City of Cambridge was an ideal candidate to apply this framework as it has a long history of maritime culture. A robust and well-represented stakeholder advisory committee was set up to help guide the process. Two important resources were developed for Cambridge to provide long-term support: (1) financial resource guide; and (2) Cambridge opportunity zone map. The Cambridge opportunity zone map provides the City with an initial set of potential projects that can be implemented around the waterfront, and confirmation that certain projects should be considered to build and sustain a working waterfronts program. Additional projects will be identified as the City moves forward with building a sustainable program.

The framework and case study project were highlighted during a Working Waterfronts Exchange held in Cambridge in June. The Exchange brought together over 100 participants from waterfront communities in an effort to assist in the preservation and enhancement of Maryland's working waterfronts.

Click pdf here to download the final EFC report. ​​​