DMV

DMV

Officially launched in December 2023, the DMV region became the newest addition to the Emerald Cities Collaborative, encompassing the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. This region is leading efforts to integrate environment, equity, and economy, driving sustainable development and energy efficiency initiatives.
With over $3 billion invested a year in energy efficiency projects, the DMV region has emerged as a leader in addressing climate resilience through bold policies and forward-thinking legislation. However, significant challenges remain, as low-income workers, residents and firms have historically been excluded from fully participating in and benefiting from this growing economy.

To mitigate these challenges, the DMV region focuses on the following objectives:

  • Coordinate and harness the climate, economic, and equity ecosystems to ensure low-income residents, workers, and businesses benefit from shared resources and enhanced capacity.
  • Strengthen the capacity of low-income workers and businesses to improve their competitiveness in the green economy.
  • Build coalitions to advocate for inclusive economic and climate policies that expand economic opportunities and reduce climate impacts for frontline and disadvantaged communities.
  • Invest in and build the capacity of local community-based organizations, communities, and cities to implement climate equity and economic inclusion solutions, ensuring that low-income communities reap the benefits.

Tabaris Smith, PhD, Regional Director of the D.C., Maryland & Virginia Region (DMV)

Tabaris Smith is the DMV Regional Director with Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC), bringing over 12 years of expertise across construction, climate action, grassroots organizing, economic and business development, and workforce training. He has successfully developed, implemented, and managed community-centered energy and economic development projects nationwide, with a strong focus on Southern California and the DMV area.

Since joining ECC in 2019, Dr. Smith has led key initiatives, including the DC Contractor Incubator and the Advisory Committee, while co-authoring the BEPS Economic Inclusion Study. His leadership extended to serving as interim Regional Director for Southern California, where he oversaw SoCalRen’s Workforce Education and Training programs, training over 600 youth and workers and nearly 700 businesses. Under his contribution, ECC’s SoCal Region secured over $17 million in new workforce, education, and training contracts, including with Los Angeles World Airports, ensuring BIPOC communities were integral to the process.

Tabaris Smith is a proud three-time HBCU graduate, holding a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning. In 2021, he was honored as one of the Climate Action Campaign’s 40 Under 40 recipients and SC State’s 40 Under 40 recipients in 2023.
Meet Our Team

Programs & Resources

DC Contractor

The DC Contractor Incubator is a holistic training program designed to empower local small and disadvantaged firms in the District to effectively compete in the 21st-century construction industry. By focusing on the green building and clean energy sectors, the program strengthens participants’ knowledge, skills, and networks

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Green Economy Roundup

The Green Economy Round-Up is a quarterly peer exchange space facilitated by Emerald Cities Collaborative for organizations in the greater Washington DC region that are building equity and inclusion in the green economy, with a focus on the building sector. This group meets virtually, with occasional in-person gatherings. The Roundup derived from the BIPOC…

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Energy Communities Capacity Building Program

DC Place-based The Energy Communities Capacity Building (ECCB) program seeks to increase frontline community capacity and understanding around the concepts of Energy Democracy by facilitating a network of organizations in the DC region who would complete the Energy Democracy (ED)

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Supporting Equitable Building Performance (SEBP )

a. ECC DMV is working with partners to increase community ownership of building decarbonization policies and programs in DC. Through the SEBP project, ECC provides planning, facilitation, and technical assistance support to ensure that building decarbonization efforts

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Green Economy Collaborative

Past Programs & Resources

High Road Contracting Toolkit

In partnership with the Institute for Market Transformation’s Building Innovation Hub, the DMV Region developed a High Road Contracting Toolkit to assist building owners in engaging and selecting qualified BIPOC contractors to complete energy efficiency projects The toolkit is a Sample RFQ that includes inclusive language…

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American Cities Climate Challenge

Equity Advisors Serving as equity advisors to the American Cities Climate Challenge in collaboration with the DC Department of Energy and Environment, the DMV Region completed a BEPS Economic Inclusion Study Conducting over 60 interviews with CBOs, city agencies, and minority contractors…

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Montgomery County High Road Economic Inclusion Framework for an Equitable Climate-Ready Economy

Published in June 2021, the Montgomery County Climate Action Plan aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2027 and 100% by 2035 while building resilience to climate hazards.

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