The winter issue of the National Civic Review examines how local democracy is being reshaped in response to declining trust, deepening divisions, and rapid technological change. From the role of community foundations and bridging institutions to new models of local governance, civic dialogue in schools, and the emerging implications of artificial intelligence, contributors explore what democracy actually looks like on the ground today. Together, these pieces highlight the evolving practices, leadership, and cultural forces shaping more inclusive, responsive, and resilient communities.

This past membership year marked a period of intentional growth and bold steps forward for the League. Even as federal administrative transitions introduced uncertainty and our state confronts significant fiscal challenges, MML remained focused on advancing the work that strengthens Maryland’s cities and towns - and on expanding our reach in ways unlike anything in our organization’s history.

Have a vacancy to fill?

Gain access to Local, County, and State government job seekers.

Check out our MD Municipal Careers Job Board featured employment opportunity from University Park.

MML’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a city/town elected or staff official with a strong record of service to MML and the cities and towns of Maryland. Criteria considered include:

• Participation on MML committees
• Participation on the MML Board of Directors
• Active involvement with the local League chapter
• Demonstration of outstanding service to Maryland municipal government

 The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at MML’s summer conference in Ocean City, June 22-25.  Nominees can be current or former municipal officials. The deadline to nominate is April 15.

Join the Eastern Shore Food Coalition from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, at Tackling Hunger Together: An Eastern Shore Food Security Symposium at Chesapeake College, 1000 College Circle, Wye Mills, MD.

The symposium will be a day filled with insightful discussions, engaging workshops, and networking opportunities. Attendees will explore innovative solutions to address food insecurity in their communities.

The Maryland Municipal League’s Hall of Fame honors current or former municipal officials (living or deceased) that have served 20 years or more as a municipal elected official. Submissions are now open for those eligible elected officials to join the 272 municipal Hall of Famers.

Eligible officials are inducted into the Hall of Fame and honored among your colleagues at MML's 2025 summer conference in Ocean City. 

Relive the memories captured at MML events by visiting our newly created Flickr account. Access and download pictures of the Annual Legislative Opening Day Joint Reception and the Legislative Opening Day Photo Wall.

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Office of Real Estate and Development (ORED) is
seeking information from stakeholders to help inform the new Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund program before an anticipated launch later this year.

MML's partners at Railtowns.org have given us a heads up about an open funding opportunity available to our members with rail infrastructure.

Join the Sustainable Maryland Team and local experts on a series of free guided tours aimed at elected officials, municipal staff and Green Team members. You'll get a chance to see up close what a sustainable town or city looks like, and here from the people who run them. You'll be able to examine sustainable developments and green infrastructure and learn from the people that built and maintain them. Hands on, real world sustainability projects, that you can take back to your community and replicate:

Thursday, October 3, 4-6pm

Congratulations to MML's CPC Committee!

Congratulations to MML's Legislative Committee!

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grant writing workshop in DC - August 26-27, 2024.  This training is for grant seekers across all disciplines.  Attend this class and you'll learn how to find the funding sources and write winning grant proposals.  

Beginning and experienced grant writers from city, county and state agencies as well as healthcare organizations, nonprofits, K-12, colleges and universities are encouraged to attend.

Maryland’s communities are faced with a future of higher intensity storms, increased populations and development, changing sea levels and flooding, and a growing demand for healthy places for tourism and recreation. These trends make the already challenging task of restoring the Chesapeake Bay, safeguarding people and infrastructure and managing natural resources even more complex.

To assist Maryland’s communities, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is providing a single point of entry through the Grants Gateway for organizations seeking technical and financial assistance to restore local waterways, increase their resilience to climate impacts, strengthen local economies and develop the next generation of environmental stewards.

For 15 years the Maryland Municipal League has partnered with Technology Net to provide an online compensation info-sharing/survey system for Maryland cities and towns. In the past year, Technology Net has made various system upgrades and now members can engage directly with TechNet in accessing the system. Any municipalities that have been recent participants in the compensation survey will be contacted directly by TechNet to inquire about your continued interest in utilizing the system. 

If your municipality has not been a recent comp survey participant but is interested in learning more about the online system, its functionality, and cost, you may contact TechNet directly at [email protected].

The Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) has created an interest form to connect local governments and cannabis businesses. MCA began issuing conditional licenses for new cannabis grower, processor, and dispensary businesses. These awards were made by region (grower and processor) or county (dispensary). Over the next 18 months, these awardees will work to secure a location and become operational. (You may see the awards by license type and jurisdiction here).

Several county and municipal governments have contacted MCA seeking contact information for businesses that are eligible to site and operate in their jurisdiction. MCA developed this interest form to identify local government partners who are interested in obtaining contact information for cannabis businesses who are eligible to site in their jurisdiction, and determine which counties and municipalities would like to proactively work with these businesses to site and operate within their jurisdiction.