Plan to join the National League of Cities (NLC) in Tampa Bay for City Summit and NLC’s 100th anniversary celebration November 13-16, 2024. Be part of the most dynamic conference for municipal staff and officials. Connect with local leaders from across the country, policy experts, and industry professionals to gain knowledge and expand your network.

Packed with the latest trends and valuable connections, the Centennial City Summit is an epic celebration of strengthening cities, towns, and villages from 1924 to 2024. 

In observance of America’s 250th anniversary, The Maryland Two Fifty Commission is looking back at our state’s contributions to American history through the eyes and experiences of fellow Marylanders. This commemoration is for every one of us, from the Chesapeake Bay to the mountain peaks in the west. Counties and municipalities are eligible to apply for any of the 3 grant programs, and geographic spread of grantees is a priority:

• Citizen academy grants of $500 for county and municipal citizen academies for short term programs to educate and engage citizens
• MD Two Fifty Fellows paid internship grants with mentor stipend for up to $7,500
• Inclusive History grants for programs, projects, events, or research, up to $4,000

Details and applications can be found on the MD 250 website. Virtual information sessions are scheduled for Thursday, September 26, at 1:00 pm, for the MD Two Fifty Fellows grant program, and on Friday, September 27 at 11:00 am, for the MD Two Fifty Citizen Academy grant program. The virtual information sessions for the Inclusive History grant program will take place in late October.  All information will be posted on the MD 250 website and social media. 

Has your municipality created a program, policy or service that has positively impacted your community? Do you believe your city/town has implemented an innovative best practice or policy?  Then consider submitting it for an MML Municipal Achievement Award. Only one week remains to submit your entry!

The Municipal Achievement Awards are awarded annually to cities and towns that have successfully implemented policies and programs that advance good governance and the well-being of our communities.  Submissions will be accepted through September 25 at 12 noon. Recipients will be honored during the Excellence in Leadership Fall Conference, taking place November 6-8 in Cambridge.

Today’s young people are the leaders, innovators, and thinkers who will shape the next 250 years — and it’s important their voices are heard as we commemorate this historic milestone.

America’s Field Trip is a contest that invites students across the country in grades 3–12 to be part of America’s 250th anniversary by sharing their perspectives on what America means to them — with the opportunity to earn an unforgettable field trip experience at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks.

Students are asked to submit writing or original artwork in response to the contest’s prompt: “What does America mean to you?”

America250 America's Field Trip round 2 launched September 16, 2024. Earlier this year in round 1, of 150 national winners, 9 were Maryland students. Maryland winners celebrated at a recognition ceremony at the Maryland State Fair.

Nominations are now open for NLC's Centennial Under 40 Impact Awards

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

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.

Join Sustainable Maryland Certified for our virtual July Climate Webinar - July 24, 2024 at 1:00 pm

This month we will be discussing the logistics for electric vehicle infrastructure and roll out. We will discuss the latest on EVs, EV charging infrastructure, how to create a fleet transition plan for light, medium, and heavy duty vehicles, and increase readiness across the board. We will be joined by the president of Electric Vehicle Association of Greater Washington DC (EVADC) to discuss the local EV landscape.

Have a vacancy to fill?

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

The Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management (AACo OEM) is hosting the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management (I-DIEM) HERricane summer camp! Young ladies ages 14-18 are encouraged to participate in this free week-long program designed to encourage more young women to explore careers in emergency management, public safety, and related fields.

The program will run from July 15-19 at the Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, with field trips to local Emergency Operations Centers. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 21, 2024, and up to 30 students will be accepted to participate in this year’s program. For any questions email [email protected].

Participants do not have to be Anne Arundel County residents. It is open to all young ladies, aged 14-18, and it is FREE!

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 11 via SignUp.com to assist with registration 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.

We hope you'll consider donating an hour or two to help.

The Expo is back and better than ever. The recipient of four national conference awards, our summer conference expo will connect you with hundreds of industry leaders.

The MML Summer Conference Expo Hall serves as a hub for forging meaningful business partnerships to help enhance your city or town operations. Learn the latest techniques, products, and services available from the experts.

If you’re looking for additional visibility for your city or town, join the cities of Cambridge, Frederick, Hagerstown, New Carrollton, Pocomoke City, The Port Towns, Westminster, Williamsport, and MML’s Police Executive Association (PEA) for Municipal Tuesday’s MML Main Street event, an exclusive member municipality showcase opportunity.

Registration for the MML Main Street event includes:

As we prepare for our summer conference, we also reflect back on the memory of those whom we have lost.  The League will recognize municipal officials who have passed away since June of 2023 at the conference as we have done in the past.  We are calling upon you, our members, to make sure that all are remembered. 

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.