Join us for an exciting Summer Symposium on July 30th from 9:30am to 2:30pm as we feature insightful discussions, innovative ideas, and valuable networking opportunities with local leaders and subject matter experts. This year's program will be held at the beautiful Chesapeake Bay Foundation where we will continue to explore key issues impacting Maryland communities and provide practical strategies you can take back to your municipality.
Agenda Highlights:
10:00 am Decoding the Maryland Structural Deficit and Impact on Local Government
It is no secret that Maryland’s structural deficit made the recent legislative session incredibly tense, and municipal leaders are rightly anxious about what comes next. As multi-billion-dollar state mandates collide with flat revenue growth, local governments must prepare for the cascading fiscal fallout. Join leading fiscal experts as they pull back the curtain on how we reached this cliff, break down the structural realities of the state budget, and deliver a critical preview of what tightening state purse strings means for your municipality's operational stability and infrastructure planning going forward.
11:00 am Exploring Financing Options for Community Investments
Whether you're building roads, replacing water infrastructure, renovating public facilities, or investing in your community's future, understanding municipal bonding is essential. This introductory session explores two primary pathways to financing major capital projects. Experts from Moody's Ratings and S&P Global Ratings will explain how communities establish and leverage independent credit ratings to access the bond market, while Charlie Day from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development will discuss the Local Government Infrastructure Financing (LGIF) Program and how pooled financing can provide an alternative for communities that are not ready—or eligible—to issue bonds independently. Attendees will leave with a practical understanding of municipal bonding, financing options, and the steps needed to fund future capital investments.
11:45 am - Lunch and Roundtable Discussions
12:45 pm - Capital Connections: Leveraging CRA, Tax Credits, and Federal Reserve Programs for Local Impact
Discover how to look beyond standard government grants and tap into powerful alternative capital networks to fund local projects. The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and the Rural Maryland Council will share how their joint community investment training helps towns build bankable project proposals. Moving from preparation to execution, the Maryland Community Investment Corporation (MCIC) will explain how to leverage New Markets Tax Credits to attract private equity, while the National League of Cities (NLC) will show you how to leverage the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to direct local bank dollars straight into your municipality's hometown projects.
1:45 pm - Pitch Your Project
Do you have a passion project or community need that seems too big to tackle technically or financially? Take part in this collaborative brainstorming session to identify solutions.
2:30 pm - Closing remarks
Space is limited, so reserve your spot today and take advantage of our Summer Symposium bundle package. Register now and view event details here!
