The National League of Cities (NLC) has been asked to testify at the House Transportation Committee’s kickoff hearing to reauthorize the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) on Wednesday, January 15 at 10 a.m. ET. IIJA significantly expanded the number of infrastructure programs local governments could access, but there is a need to protect the local-federal partnership programs in the face of limited federal funding and tough scrutiny in the renewal process. The NLC Research team has prepared a new local infrastructure priorities survey and needs responses before March 12. The goal is to have every state’s representation resulting in national report out of the nation’s most pressing city infrastructure needs and state-by-state breakouts for Senators and State Leagues for use for state-level work.

The Biden-Harris Administration recently announced a $1.35 billion increase in federal funding to address climate resilience nationwide. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell revealed that this funding is available through two critical grant programs: the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program. These funds aim to enhance disaster preparedness, protect people and infrastructure, and mitigate flood risks nationwide.

The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program offers $750 million for projects aimed at mitigating risks from natural hazards such as floods, hurricanes, and extreme heat. Maryland municipalities can leverage this funding to support initiatives like stormwater system upgrades, reinforcing public buildings, and developing green infrastructure to enhance resilience.

The countdown to #MMLCon25 registration has begun. As we get closer to registration going live on February 3, don’t miss out on our first Lunch and Learn webinar of the year to help you prepare to get your officials signed up.

Join MML staff on Wednesday, January 29 at noon as we provide an overview of the event registration process that will include:

A Summit to Envision Our Cities’ Futures with Today’s Leading Mayors on Housing  

The Moment for Housing is Now - National League of Cities, is happening Thursday, January 16, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. in person at Georgetown University in Washington DC. We have a great line-up.  There is no registration fee with this event and breakfast and lunch are included along with a networking reception.

Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, DC and the National League of Cities (NLC) invite you to join us for a critical conversation on the state of housing supply in America’s cities.  

The MML Annual Summer Conference is June 22-25, 2025. Save the dates below and look for more details to come.

Have a vacancy to fill?

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

MML’s annual “If I Were Mayor, I Would…" essay contest is the League's oldest ambassador program and is celebrating its 25^th anniversary. The 25-year-old contest educates fourth graders (and teachers) about municipal government and the role of the mayor. A postcard announcing the 2025 essay contest was mailed to schools and municipalities in early January. Materials are now live on our website.

Essay contest deadline is March 7

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.

Setting Up Your myMGA Account

To submit testimony (oral, written, or informational) to the Maryland General Assembly, you must have a myMGA account. There are helpful tutorials for myMGA here.

Join MML and the Maryland Mayors for our inaugural Advocacy Day as we meet with state leadership, visit the statehouse, and attend delegation meetings.

March 6, 2025 - 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Governor Calvert House, Annapolis, MD

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Sign up for the Local Dispatch e-newsletter today!

The highly anticipated 2025 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session begins today! The Maryland Municipal League and the City of Annapolis invite you to join us on January 8, 2025, for our Legislative Opening Day Reception, the ultimate legislative launch event in Annapolis. Don’t miss the excitement at the historic Governor Calvert House, 58 State Circle, Annapolis, from 6 to 8 p.m on January 8. 

Got a workshop idea to help educate Maryland's city and town leaders on timely issues and governing best practices?  Consider submitting a session proposal for MML's 2025 Summer Conference in Ocean City.  Deadline for submission is Friday, January 17.  If you have questions or need more information, please contact Tom Reynolds at [email protected].

U.S. House and Senate committees recently introduced a bicameral agreement to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Although the proposed bill includes some positive policy changes, several provisions raise concerns about reducing local flexibility and stakeholder involvement. Key issues include redesignation of local workforce development areas which may reduce local accountability and slow innovation by enabling single-area designations in many states. There have also been several One-Size-Fits-All mandates. These Federal mandates on training and work-experience requirements for youth could negatively impact underserved populations. There has also been an increased governor's set-aside for critical industries fund expanding state-level set-asides to 25% could limit resources for local implementation.

Advocacy efforts, including letters from the National League of Cities (NLC), U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), and National Association of Counties (NACo), continue to push for greater flexibility, though movement on local redesignation provisions remains unlikely. Members are encouraged to engage Congress and share concerns here.

Hosted by the Maryland Forestry Foundation, the next installment of the Forestry Policy Third Thursday virtual webinars series will be held December 19, 1 - 2 p.m.

The December webinar is focused on Conservation by Design in Land Use Planning which is a specific strategy to implement the land discussed in the last webinar. JOIN US!

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) will co-host a webinar called "The Status of Recycling in Maryland" with the Maryland Recycling Network (MRN). The target audience is both local and State elected officials.

More details are below. Email Gabrielle Leach with questions or to RSVP. 

Program Description:​ The Maryland Smart Energy Communities (MSEC) FY25 programs are designed to support local governments, state agencies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and communities as they engage in sustainable, long-term, clean energy policies and projects that lead to reduced energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions, increased cost savings, and robust clean energy and economic development.

Program Purpose: ​The MSEC FY25 program provides a comprehensive suite of programs that extend beyond government operations to include opportunities for communities as a whole.  This offering provides an opportunity to fund community-wide visions of how clean energy and related technologies can scale up to a community level.  The two core programs within the MSEC portfolio are designed to foster overall community planning that involves the setting of climate and energy goals, decarbonizing economies, and promoting diversity and environmental justice.

The National Civic League is now accepting applications for the 2025 All-America City Award. The theme for 2025 is “Strengthening Environmental Sustainability through Inclusive Community Engagement.” The League is seeking communities that actively engage residents, businesses, and government stakeholders in initiatives to promote environmental sustainability and strengthen community resilience.

Apply to join the nine communities from Maryland that have won the All-America City Award! You can view the full list of past recipients here.