The Maryland Municipal League is proud to be one of the 130 partners to support the Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong coalition. If you know someone impacted by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, please see the resources available below.

To date, more than 130 partners have joined the alliance, committing more than $15 million and providing other non-monetary support for port workers and to the broader recovery. 

The Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Fund, established by the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) has been the primary resource for alliance members to support port workers, first responders and their families, and impacted Key Bridge communities.   The fund has received support from over 300 contributors. The consistent needs identified by each community include immediate support for basic human needs. This includes the ask for private financial support for workers affected by the port closure, with assistance to cover basic essentials.  

Applications are now being accepted for the African American Heritage Preservation Program FY2025 grant round. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the grant guidelines, view a recorded webinar and contact program staff with any questions, including whether your project is eligible. All applications must be completed and submitted by 11:59 pm on July 1, 2024.

The African American Heritage Preservation Program (AAHPP) provides grants to assist in the preservation of buildings, sites, or communities of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland.

The AAHPP is administered as a partnership between the Maryland Historical Trust and the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC). The program typically receives an annual appropriation of $5,000,000 for grants per year.

Read about transformative proposals for improving community governance, public health outcomes, local elections, city management, and local decision-making in the Spring 2024 National Civic Review. Also, the importance of hope in efforts to bring about positive community change.

The Review's online edition is now open access. You can read it here.

Member pricing for our summer conference is still available.  Our lowest rates since 2017 gets you the most sessions we’ve ever had. The regular registration fee is $725 through May 31.

The conference’s 53 sessions include:

•     Optional mobile tours of an innovative local solution (Berlin, Ocean City, Salisbury)
•     Convening of MML Caucuses
•     5 Academy for Excellence in Local Governance Core Courses
•     7 Academy Electives
•     Address from Governor Wes Moore
•     Maryland’s Best Block Party
•     General sessions featuring:  
•         Nationally acclaimed speaker Brandon Fleming
•         Bayside Chat with Senator Ben Cardin (Invited)
•     Access to nearly 300 vendors in our award-winning expo
•     Cabinet Secretaries Office Hours
•     And much more...

 

Our team is excited for our national award-winning conference this June and I think you will be too when you see the new enhancements.
 
At the 2024 MML Summer Conference, we have increased ways to engage and participate for all attendees. Taking the lead from our members on survey feedback, you will see a new spotlight on Maryland’s municipalities including our new, MML Main Street.

MML Main Street is a chance to engage with 30 member municipalities in a featured exhibit area at the conclusion of Governor Moore’s (invited) closing speech on Tuesday afternoon. From one corner of the state and across our waterways and to the mountains, this will allow member municipalities to showcase their home right there in Ocean City.

We’re back, bigger and better than ever. The recipient of four national conference awards, our summer conference will connect your organization to 1,800 attendees who represent 160 local governments, state government leadership and community leadership from across Maryland. During our conference and expo, we promise an unparalleled opportunity for networking, learning, and showcasing your solutions.

MMLCon24’s Expo Hall serves as a hub for forging meaningful relationships and showcasing the latest information, techniques, products, and services that municipalities crave. And there's no shortage of new features designed to enhance your expo hall experience.

#MMLCon24 isn't just another event; it's a convergence of minds, a platform for change, and an opportunity to shape the future of Maryland's cities and towns and support the 2 million Marylanders who call a municipality home. As we gear up for thought leadership, inspiration and community service, be a part of the local government solution in Maryland.

Why Sponsor?

Digital and On-site Exposure: Secure sponsorship now - and your brand gets pushed out now, ahead of the conference and on-site. Website, email, social media and an app.  

• High-Visibility Events: From the opening and closing general sessions to keynote presentations, your brand will be prominently featured, leaving a lasting impression.
• Lead Generation: Decision makers from local government to our counterparts at the state and federal level attend this conference - bring your box of cards and get ready to connect.
• Beyond the Convention Center: Want to have your brand on the Boardwalk in front of vacationing families from across the Mid-Atlantic the week before July 4? We got you covered.

Click here for sponsor opportunities. Let us help you secure an MML sponsorship package to meet your specific business goals and create lasting relationships.

For more information contact, Felicia Banuelos.  

The upcoming 2024 Public Leaders for Inclusion Council is now accepting applications. Dynamic leaders in government are invited to be a part of this transformative experience! The Council, known for bringing together visionaries committed to fostering inclusive governance, is set to convene again.

This is your opportunity to join a prestigious cohort of leaders dedicated to driving positive change across diverse communities.

The Public Leaders for Inclusion Council (PLC) is a leadership development program that equips public (municipal, county, and State) servants in elected, appointed, and professional positions to explore practices and policies that challenge anti-Muslim racism and other forms of hate while building inclusion and social resilience in their communities.

Diverse Perspectives Wanted: We encourage leaders from various backgrounds and regions to apply. The council's strength lies in its members' diversity, each contributing a unique perspective to the collective mission of promoting inclusivity in public leadership.

Why Apply?

• Network with like-minded leaders from across the nation.
• Collaborate on innovative solutions for inclusive governance.
• Showcase your expertise and contribute to meaningful change.

Council details and application form and criteria may be found on the America Indivisible website:

Apply before the March 25 deadline.

Build Connections at NLC's Congressional City Conference.

Be part of the coalition of 2000+ local leaders at NLC’s Congressional
City Conference advocating for local priorities. Meet and hear directly
from federal officials about current and upcoming funding opportunities
available to your city, town, or village.

Announcing the inaugural MML Advocacy Day - MML members are welcome to join Mayors as we meet with state leadership, visit the Maryland State House and meet with MML’s chapter equivalent delegation chairs.

Please mark your calendars now for Advocacy Day, which will take place on February 29th, from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Governor Calvert House.

Marketplace.city is partnering with Leading Cities, a nonprofit to advance government sustainability and resiliency, to help find communities for pre-paid pilots through their AcceliGOV program. Winners of the accelerator program, AcceliCITY, will receive money for a funded pilot (no financial commitment from the government), and Marketplace.city is helping with the outreach to potential partner communities. The pilot areas are:

• Solid Waste Solution
• Weather Data Solution
• EV Charging Solution
• Sustainability and Resilience Solution
• Clean Water Solution
• Emergency Response Solution

A full overview of the proposed pilot parameters and the companies involved can be found on AcceliGOV’s website.

Registration is open for the 2024 Maryland Mayors Association Winter Conference and our spots are filling up! This two-day event is only available to current Mayors and takes place February 29th - March 1st in Annapolis. The event is packed with educational sessions, networking opportunities, and policy discussions with Maryland General Assembly leaders.

Registration closes on Sunday, February 4, please confirm your place and book accommodations today: visit us online.

The Maryland Municipal League and the City of Annapolis are excited to bring together stakeholders for the 2024 Opening Day Legislative Reception taking place Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the Governor Calvert House in downtown Annapolis.

We had a 1,500+ crowd in 2023, so please save the date on your calendar. Sponsorship opportunities are available, both for member cities and organizations. For more information, please contact Felicia Banuelos at [email protected] or Jane Bachman at [email protected].

Join us Wednesday, January 10, 2024, for an exciting evening celebrating opening day of the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session!

Hosted by the Maryland Municipal League and the City of Annapolis, this annual event serves as a great start to the legislative session. The MML Opening Day Reception is the ultimate platform to connect and network in a dynamic legislative setting. With over 1,500 attendees in 2023, you do not want to miss one of the best attended legislative networking receptions of the year. So mark your calendars for MML’s Opening Day Reception at the Governor Calvert House, 58 State Circle, Annapolis, tonight from 6 to 8 p.m.

You are a key stakeholder in the success of Maryland's municipalities and local governments. In the past, you have supported our programming and events and so we would like to invite you to join us for our inaugural, State of the Municipality.
 
There is limited seating left for this exclusive event.
 
Keynote Speaker Dr. Anirban Basu will share the release of the 2023 commissioned study, The Economic Significance of Maryland's Municipalities.
 
The study:
•    Assesses the quantifiable economic contributions of municipal governments on the state’s economy -and-
•    Discusses the ways in which Maryland’s cities and towns improve quality of life

Join us and our municipal members and reinforce your knowledge on the tangible factors that our 160 local government members bring to the table to make our state a great place to live, work, play and do business.
 
December 14, 2024
10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
 
Governor Calvert House
58 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401
 
Event speakers:
 
MML President, Galena Mayor John Carroll
MML CEO, Theresa Kuhns

The 2024 theme, 'Strengthening Democracy through Local Action and Innovation,' aims to spotlight communities bolstering democratic processes, through innovations such as making it easier to vote, engage in community affairs, and participate in leadership roles.

Mark your calendar! The deadline for optional letters of intent to apply is December 14, 2023, and final applications must be submitted by February 13, 2024. In March 2024, we'll announce the top 20 finalists who will have the opportunity to convene in Denver, CO from June 7-9, 2024, to showcase their community's achievements at the All-America City Award event. Don't miss your chance to shine on this national stage!

For additional information, watch this informational webinar and download the application.

Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the new Supreme Court term and what decisions local governments should watch. The Supreme Court will rule on several major cases this term, including on issues related to:

•     A possible new standard for employment liability under Title VII;
•     Whether a public official’s social media account can constitute state action for the purposes of the First Amendment;
•     Whether the Supreme Court should overrule Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which relates to deference that courts should provide administrative agencies; and
•     Whether firearm regulations prohibiting individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders violate the Second Amendment

Full details

The Academy for Excellence in Local Governance

This certificate program, a sponsorship between MML, MACo, LGIT and the University of Maryland, is the cornerstone of MML’s professional development offerings. Those attending the Excellence in Leadership Fall Conference will be able to receive Academy elective credits if they attend any of the following sessions:

• Supporting an Energy Efficient Community 
• Defining Housing Supply 
• Traffic Calming, Road Diets and Speed Management: Moving to Pedestrian Safety 
• Main Street Partnerships: Your Path to Downtown Revitalization
• Taking a Kaleidoscope Approach to Leading Inclusively
• Social Media and Your Town 
• Fighting Hate for Good: How to Speak up Against the Rising Tide of Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism

All registered attendees may attend any Academy core or elective course. If you’re not currently an Academy Fellow, you have 30-days from the course’s date to enroll and still receive credit.  An Academy representative will be available onsite, at the conference, Monday and Tuesday.

Have you graduated from the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance? Continue your learning, sign up today for the next Academy Graduate course, ”Tackling Leadership Challenges Creatively”. This course , open to Academy graduates only, will be held on October 17 in conjunction with the MML Fall Conference in College Park.

Still checking off your core class requirements? Don’t miss the three Academy core options being offered in College Park.  

• Municipal Budgeting
• Effective Meetings
• Ethics

You must be registered for the conference and pre-registered for the graduate course to participate. 

If you're still trying to decide if this year's Excellence in Leadership Fall Conference sessions fit your needs, here's some insight to move you closer to snagging one of the few available spots remaining.

Register 
Program