Subject: LIRA Update – Grant Program, Volunteer Events & New Members

From: Mike Littman <[email protected]>

Date: 10/13/25, 10:17 AM

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Hello All,

I wanted to share a few important updates:

Grant Program Update

27 applications were submitted during the first grant cycle (9/15–9/29). As a reminder, grant

cycles occur every two months, with the next application period running from 11/15 to 11/29.

The technical review committee and the LSWCD Board have reviewed applications and submitted

recommended grantees and award amounts to the Department of General Services for final

approval. We expect grants to be finalized this week. LIRA members who submitted during the

first round include: Ashburn Village, Beacon Hill, Brambleton, Brentwood Springs, Cascades,

Cascades Place, Courts of St. Francis, Connemara Farms, Kirkpatrick Farms, Lansdowne on the

Potomac, Raspberry Falls, River Creek, and Willowsford, along with pilot communities

Countryside and Aldie Estates (submitting for Years 2 & 3 coverage). Best of luck to everyone —

we hope you receive the funding you requested! We've also heard from LSWCD that many more

LIRA communities are intending to apply in the second cycle — great to see the momentum

building.

Volunteer Removal Events – This Sunday

While the grants are a great start, tackling invasive species will require community involvement

beyond the initial funding. The best approach is “train the trainer” — and that’s where LIRA’s

volunteer events come in. There are two opportunities this coming Sunday. Wetlands Studies

and Solutions will lead an event at Willowsford (Aldie) - Details can be found here. A second

event will be held at Ashburn Village (Pavilion Lake) led by the Ashburn Village Invasive Removal

Team (AVIRT). Details can be found here. We encourage you to attend or send volunteers

from your community — it's a great way to build capacity and inspire local action.

Welcome to Our Newest LIRA Members!

We’re excited to announce that LIRA now includes 84 HOAs, representing over half the county’s

population — more than 228,000 residents.

Please welcome our newest members who joined since July: Cascades Place, Catoctin Creek,

Catoctin Meadows, Dutchman's Creek, Greene Mill Preserve, Hamilton Acres, Lansdowne

Conservancy, Lee's Crossing, Martin's Chase, Saddlebrook, Selma Estates, Seneca Ridge, and

Windermere. We’re so glad to have you with us!

Thanks for all you’re doing to support your communities and our shared environment.

Best regards,

Mike

LIRA-VA

CMHOA Spotted Lantern Fly Subcommittee

Michael Durrence -  Subcommittee Chair

Dan Shaughnessy - Subcommittee Member 

 https://www.cmhoava.com/p/SpottedLanternFlySubcommittee