Mark your calendar for Thursday, May 2nd, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Annapolis, MD, for an all day Smart Growth Summit.The event will be led by the National Center for Smart Growth in partnership with Maryland Department of Planning, Maryland Municipal League, and Maryland Association of Counties.
To finalize the exact amounts that the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) Committee should allocate for each grant program, the Committee is seeking eligible entities' responses to whether they would like to sign up for the offered programs. The deadline to respond to this survey is: Friday, March 22nd, 2024.
Responding to this survey is imperative so that the SLCGP Committee can make final determinations on the allocation of precise dollar amounts for each program.
Call for Grant Proposals - $140 Million Available for National Coastal Resilience Fund 2024
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) will award approximately $140 million in grants to create and restore natural systems to increase protection for communities from current and future coastal hazards and improve habitats for fish and wildlife species. The goal is to enhance protection for coastal communities from the impacts of storms, floods, and other natural coastal hazards and to improve habitats for fish and wildlife. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will make investments in planning, design, and implementation of natural and nature-based solutions.
The Municipal Technical Assistance Program is hosting a roundtable on Maryland ARPA Spending Trends and Success Stories on February 27th from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST. This roundtable-style webinar will review municipal 2023 ARPA spending trends and invite towns to share examples of ARPA-funded projects. ARPA funding has offered municipal leaders a significant opportunity to carry out projects and initiatives with a wide-ranging impact. And keep in mind that all ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) must be obligated by December 31, 2024.
If your town is still determining how best to apply this critical federal funding before the obligation deadline later this year, we welcome your participation! Click here to register
Council details and application form and criteria may be found on the America Indivisible website:
Apply before the March 25 deadline.
MML is excited to share the Talent for Tomorrow: Digital Equity Challenge with you. The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and MML Strategic Partner, Comcast Corporation recently announced a new grant award program to support the launch and expansion of local workforce programs designed to grow college and career readiness, close the digital skills gap, advance economic mobility, and lay the foundation for generational wealth in under-resourced communities.
Mayors know firsthand the importance of digital training and access to the knowledge needed to prepare underserved communities for more equitable and inclusive jobs. They support the growth and development of a more highly skilled workforce and recognize that everyone benefits when the public sector partners with nonprofits and the private sector to connect and leverage vital resources to up-skill workers.
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 2024 summer conference in Ocean City.
MML Leaders Join Del. Kerr for Bill Hearing to Enhance Roadway Safety Through Speed Camera Standardization
(February 8, 2024) Annapolis, Md. – The Maryland Municipal League (MML) joined Del. Ken Kerr at the House Environment and Transportation Committee hearing this afternoon for House Bill 282 which would enable municipalities to utilize trained technicians to review speed camera tickets and issue citations. This change would more closely align speed camera image review with the current manner in which red light tickets are processed throughout Maryland.
The Environmental Protection Agency has launched a new Office of the Municipal Ombudsman. The office serves as a resource for municipalities navigating Clean Water and can help you identify technical assistance, funding opportunities and brainstorm options.
The Office of the Municipal Ombudsman is Independent, Impartial, and Confidential.
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.
The State of Maryland has significant connections to the founding of our Nation, and chances are that your city or town has physical structures that mark “What Happened Here on This Date.” As we countdown to 2026 and the Country’s 250th Anniversary, the National Park Service under the U.S. Department of the Interior has announced the Semi-quincentennial Grant Program.
Open to local governments, this opportunity provides funds for physical preservation of a historic site, to include:
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.
As of July 1, 2024, the Maryland Department of the Environment will require all facilities conducting monitoring regulated under Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 26.04.07.09, 26.04.07.17, 26.04.07.20 and/or 40 CFR Part 258 to analyze for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, PFBS, and HFPO-DA (commonly referred to as a GenX Chemical). The risk posed by exposure to PFAS is an emerging and evolving national concern. MDE is focused on:
MDE is focused first on determining if any locations in Maryland pose unacceptable risks to human health associated with exposures to PFAS, and whether there are locations of continuing releases of PFAS compounds.
Join Sustainable Maryland staff and energy finance experts on Monday, February 26 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. for a hybrid (in person and Zoom) leadership training on Accessing Funding for Climate and Energy-related Projects. Participants will learn about the Climate Solutions Now Act (CSNA); existing and upcoming funding opportunities related to building electrification, electric vehicle transition, adopting renewable energy, and best practices for securing funding. Details, including how to register, are available on Sustainable Maryland's Leadership Training events page.
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:
A full overview of the proposed pilot parameters and the companies involved can be found on AcceliGOV’s website.
Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response (MOOR) is pleased to announce our Competitive Grant Program for fiscal year 2025! The purpose of our Competitive Grant Program is to distribute funding to the highest-scoring proposals received from state and local governments, as well as from private and not-for-profit community-based partners, that align with Maryland’s strategic priorities and serve to meet some of the greatest needs around the State. The funding available for our Competitive Grant Program is approximately $6 million. For information on eligibility and requirements, as well as key dates and how to apply, visit the MOOR website.
(January 18, 2024) Annapolis, Md. – The Maryland Municipal League (MML) joined Senator Michael Jackson and Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kevin Anderson at the Senate Budget and Taxation hearing, January 18, in support of Senate Bill 14. SB 14 would enable Maryland’s 157 municipalities to establish Tourism Zones, bringing in new visitors, future residents and helping to attract new tourism-related business to cities, towns, and villages across the state.
“Representing three districts with diverse needs, literally fits this bill to a tee,” opened the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jackson. “Understanding that each [municipality] has their own particular needs, our job is to – as legislators – try to meet those needs.” The bill, if successful, would allow municipalities to self-designate the boundaries of a tourism zone, to establish definitions for tourism businesses and qualifications for incentives, and to provide certain local incentives. Incentives include, but are not limited to, real property tax credits, personal property tax credits, and exemption from local Admission and Amusement tax.
MML’s priority legislation, House Bill 282, will be heard in the House Environment & Transportation Committee on Thursday, February 8. HB 282 enables trained municipal personnel, in addition to a law enforcement officer, to approve or deny speed camera citations – just like red-light cameras and work zone speed cameras – simply standardizing the practice of camera enforcement.
The health and safety of the citizens who live, work, and play in our communities is one of the most important responsibilities of local governments. Improving the efficacy of municipal speed camera programs will reduce administrative burdens, empower smaller municipalities, and most importantly, enhance public safety.
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].
