The second annual National Economic Mobility and Opportunity Conference will be held August 19 - 21, 2026 in Washington, D.C. The conference brings together local government leaders, practitioners, researchers, nonprofit organizations, and community partners from across the country committed to creating places where all residents can thrive.
The State of Maryland's Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) continues to assist Maryland municipalities in understanding the eligibility, compliance, and reporting requirements of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CLFRF) program.
As municipalities work to take advantage of funding opportunities, success depends on more than simply identifying potential grants; it requires clear project development, strong internal readiness, and the ability to translate planning into execution. MTAP’s offerings bring these elements together through its newly expanded Fund Mapping service, an internal capacity self-assessment resource, and a real-world example of successful project delivery.
Building on this foundation, MTAP is now expanding this service to include two new components: Project Scoping and Federal Agency Application Reference Guides. Project Scoping helps to sharpen municipal project ideas while Federal Agency Application Reference Guides spell out key forms, documentation, and more to help municipalities prepare applications. Together, these newly expanded services will provide more targeted, hands-on assistance to help communities refine project ideas and navigate application requirements with greater confidence.
To request a Fund Map, please complete the MTAP Fund Mapping intake form here: Fund Mapping Intake Form. To discuss Project Scoping or Federal Agency Application Reference Guides, or to explore which services best fit your needs, please contact MTAP directly at [email protected].
MTAP has also released an Internal Capacity for Federal Grant Funding Self-Assessment, which can serve as a companion to fund mapping or as a standalone resource for municipalities to evaluate their organizational readiness. By identifying strengths and gaps across key areas of grant management and compliance, the tool helps communities assess themselves as effective potential stewards of federal funding and identify areas for improvement.
Finally, MTAP highlights success stories such as the City of Westminster’s PUREWater initiative to demonstrate what is possible when strong project development, internal capacity, and strategic funding alignment come together. As a first-of-its-kind project in Maryland, PUREWater Westminster offers a tangible example of how municipalities can successfully advance complex infrastructure projects when these elements are in place. Collectively, these resources and examples provide municipalities with a clearer pathway from identifying opportunities to achieving successful outcomes.
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (COG) 2026 Climate and Energy Leadership Awards Program application submission deadline has been extended to Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Five projects will be awarded to:
Through this program winners serve as a role model and are recognized in front of local, regional, and national officials for their innovative climate stewardship projects and programs that engage and serve the region’s underserved communities. Winning applicants will also be featured on the COG website through project descriptions and a short video.
We need your help. To ensure a successful summer conference we need your help at registration and throughout the event. If you've got the time, we've the job for you. Sign up by June 3 via SignUp.com to assist with registration, be an usher, or be a greeter. Greeters will introduce themselves to lost-looking first timers, assist with directions, the app, encourage visits to the expo, and be the friendly face in the crowd. This is an excellent way to meet new people. Plus, you'll get an MVP Volunteer Ribbon and our sincere appreciation.
Volunteers are the backbone supporting a successful conference. We cannot do it without you.
Check out the Snap Educational Sessions on the Expo Stage and experience where innovation meets action. These fast-paced, 30-minute Snap Sessions deliver powerful, real-world insights designed to tackle today’s municipal challenges head-on.
Each session is packed with practical takeaways and proven solutions you can bring back and put to work immediately. Grab your wireless headphones, tune in, and get inspired by this year’s summer conference Snaps:
Is your city or town anticipating a sizable turnover in elected officials? Would they benefit from engaging in a facilitated team-building dialogue, discussion of roles and responsibilities, as well as a goal-setting exercise to get everyone on the same page? The Maryland Municipal League has helped more than a dozen member municipalities get their newly elected officials’ terms off to a productive and collaborative start. Standard retreats are five hours long with a facilitation fee of $2,500 for members with populations of 10,000 or less and $4,000 for those with more than 10,000 residents. For more information, contact MML Director of Leadership Development and retreat facilitator Tom Reynolds at [email protected].
The Maryland Open Meetings Act requires that every public body, including municipalities, have at least one person complete Open Meetings Act training to meet the requirements of the state's Open Meetings Act law. That training requirement can be met by either taking the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance in-person core class training or completing an online training module, which can now be found exclusively on the Maryland Attorney General's website. This training is no longer available through the University of Maryland's Institute for Governmental Service. For more information, contact Tom Reynolds at [email protected].
With the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session in the rearview mirror, please check out MML's Legislative Summary!
Call for proposals! The 2026 Small Business Anti-Displacement Network Summit on Preventing Climate Displacement is looking for panels or individual presentations about equitable climate resilience and recovery strategies that keep small businesses in place. The online summit will be held November 12-13, 2026.
Co-hosted by the Gentrification & Urban Displacement Lab at the Boston University Initiative on Cities, the summit will examine how climate displacement is increasingly affecting vulnerable communities and small businesses across the U.S. and globally. Climate disasters, the long-term effects of climate change, and climate adaptation or mitigation strategies can kickstart or compound gentrification. New public and private climate-related investments can significantly change communities, displacing small businesses and the residents whom they serve. BIPOC- and immigrant-owned small businesses in low-wealth neighborhoods are particularly vulnerable to climate displacement.
MML’s most engaged members have reached the end of this year’s Banner City/Town journey and have earned their Banner City/Town designation. MML’s oldest ambassador program is a guidepost for members to make the most of their MML membership as these municipalities have done.
Congratulations to MML’s 2026 Banner Cities and Towns:
Bel Air, Berwyn Heights, Bladensburg, Brentwood, Brunswick, Cambridge, Cottage City, Cumberland, Denton, Edmonston, Emmitsburg, Friendsville, Frostburg, Gaithersburg, Galena, Glenarden, Greenbelt, Hagerstown, Hampstead, Hyattsville, Keedysville, La Plata, Laurel, Mount Airy, Mount Rainier, New Carrollton, North Brentwood, Pocomoke City, Rockville, Salisbury, Seat Pleasant, Somerset, Sykesville, Takoma Park, Taneytown, Union Bridge, Upper Marlboro, Westminster
As we prepare for our summer conference, we also reflect back on the memory of those we have lost. The League will recognize municipal officials who have passed away since June of 2025 at the conference as we have done in the past. We are calling upon you, our members, to make sure that all are remembered.
We know it’s not always easy to commit to a four-day conference, so we created a Tuesday experience designed specifically for busy municipal professionals. Join us on Tuesday, June 16, and experience the best of MMLCon in just one day.
Municipal Tuesday: At $150 for one day, it is the most cost-effective way for municipal staff* looking to connect with colleagues and attend workshops specifically designed for local government professionals, to attend our conference.
MMLCon is just 31 days away. There's still time to secure your registration before the regular rate ends on May 15.
The Maryland Municipal League's Emergency Management Officials Department (EMOD) is pleased to announce the inaugural issue of Emergency Management Officials Quarterly. The newsletter is designed to promote the mission and goals of EMOD by sharing best practices, real-world experiences, and training opportunities with all 161 MML member local governments. If you're a local government official interested in ensuring your town is prepared unforeseen crises and emergencies, this is a must-read publication.
You can access the first and current issue of the newsletter here.
Do you have questions about Artificial Intelligence in Maryland? Are you confused about AI policies and guidance for your city or town? Are you researching AI software you would like to request or new technology you want to implement in your department?
As municipalities continue exploring how artificial intelligence can improve public service delivery, operational efficiency, and resident engagement, Maryland has created a centralized resource hub to support responsible AI adoption across government. Check out Maryland AI! Municipal members are encouraged to explore the platform, review available guidance, and consider how responsible AI tools may support their local operations and community outcomes. Agencies interested in using AI can submit an intake request to the Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) describing the proposed AI use case, business justification, expected outcomes, success metrics, and perceived risk level here. Maryland also offers AI training here.
Just five more weeks until we celebrate 90 years of local leadership in Ocean City. Before you touch down in Ocean City for the Summer Conference, here are a few tips and tricks to help you prepare:
Experience our Mobile Tours, crafted to inspire knowledge sharing and highlight initiatives municipal leaders can replicate in their own communities.
Mobile tours are hosted on Sunday, June 14 from 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Is Your Social Media ADA-Compliant? Understanding the New Requirements
The deadline for the new ADA Title II digital accessibility requirements has been extended, giving public sector communications teams twelve months to align their digital presence with federal standards. While this extension provides some breathing room, the complexity of moving from theory to practice remains. This session will show how your team can confidently implement accessibility standards within a fast-paced communications environment.
