On September 16, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced three new funding opportunities, totaling approximately $117 million, to improve recycling infrastructure and consumer education and outreach on wasted food prevention and composting. Two are Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grants for communities and for Tribes and intertribal consortia - focused on improving solid waste management infrastructure. The third is for the Recycling Outreach and Education (REO) grant program and is focused on wasted food prevention and composting.

Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Funding Opportunities

We are offering an opportunity to Maryland's city and town managers to join the MML Executive Committee and senior management team for a Lunch and Learn, on October 10 at noon, to hear about an engagement initiative with the League to represent Municipal managers across the state and network with over 115+ manager colleagues. 

The Maryland Municipal League City and Town Administrators Department was created in 1978 as an affiliate of the League, designed to focus on specific municipal matters that may impact a city manager’s duties and responsibilities; and serves to help municipal managers stay tapped into League-wide resources that may benefit their municipality.

This year's jam-packed Excellence in Leadership Fall Conference includes five (5) workshops designated as Academy for Excellence in Local Governance elective classes.  To see which classes qualify for elective credit, visit the updated preliminary conference schedule on the Maryland Municipal League website.

Academy Electives include:

The 2024 Maryland Clean Energy Summit will take place on October 7 - 8 at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. 

• Experts have been assembled
• Breakout sessions are scheduled
• Funding and financing resources have been identified
• Procurement and project design assistance is accessible

Community leaders concerned about rising energy costs and reducing carbon emissions won’t want to miss this conference. Hear from presenters and meet with vendors who will help identify the right solutions for your community from idea to implementation.

Explore and search through MML's Hall of Fame Inductees, now featured on the MML website! Browse through a rich history spanning from 1997 to 2024, celebrating the remarkable contributions of municipal officials

We honor and celebrate over 150 elected officials who honored their community through municipal service. Thank you!

Do you have a wall mural or street art from your city or town that you want to display? A sculpture in your city or town that you think deserves more recognition? Consider submitting a photo of your city or town's public art to be showcased at the Excellence in Leadership MML Fall Conference! 

Submission Guidelines:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found recurring Clean Air Act compliance issues at Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills leading to the significant release of methane, a climate super-pollutant, and other air pollutants. More than 100 EPA inspections over the past three years reveal that many MSW landfill operators are not complying with applicable regulatory requirements, including gas collection and control systems (GCCS) requirements, surface emissions monitoring (SEM) procedures, and maintaining cover surface integrity. 

As a result, EPA is issuing two enforcement alerts on MSW landfills at the same time:

Sustainable Maryland is excited to announce the inaugural year of funding for the Sustainable Maryland Action Grants for incorporated municipalities, furthering a commitment to enhance livability for all Marylanders by supporting a wide range of community-scale sustainability efforts. Funding for this grant program was made possible by the State of Maryland when it created the Sustainable Maryland Program fund in 2022. This fund sets aside a portion of the state’s annual budget specifically to support Maryland’s municipal sustainability efforts through the Sustainable Maryland program. By offering $100,000 to municipalities that are registered and certified with Sustainable Maryland, these grants seek to bridge the gap between local budget and resource capacity and state funding.

For more information, visit the Sustainable Maryland SM Action Grants webpage.

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. 

Preliminary Schedule Announced!

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program has an estimated $7.5 billion in available funding, including $6.5 billion for WIFIA and $1 billion for the State Water Infrastructure Financing Innovation Act (SWIFIA), aimed at supporting around $15 billion in water infrastructure projects.

The WIFIA program not only supports public health, environmental benefits, and local economies by creating over 60,000 jobs, but it also offers flexible financing options, including the ability to defer loan repayments for up to five years and customize payment schedules over a 35-year term. Examples of successful WIFIA-funded projects include California's Orange County Water District's Groundwater Replenishment System Expansion, which allowed the district to lower its interest rate, saving them $75 million in financing costs. Another example is Wichita's new Northwest Water Treatment Facility project, which was able to start 7 years earlier than originally planned due to WIFIA funding. These projects and other developments highlight the program's impact on enhancing water reliability and resilience.

New to registering your officials for an MML conference? Or need a refresher course?

Our Leadership Development team will host Virtual Office Hours focused on using our MC Pro registration system on September 20 from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

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. 

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.

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.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the opening of the next round of Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) program grants. They have made over $600 million available for both planning and construction projects that seek to restore mobility, accessibility, and community connectivity that is harmed by defined dividing infrastructure facilities. This announcement contains all of the remaining Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding for the program. Applications are due Sept 30.

Sign up today for one of three regional tours being planned in conjunction with the MML Excellence in Leadership Fall Conference. Tours are free and open to MML municipal officials registered for the full conference.

Neighborhood Revitalization Tour
November 6, 1 - 2:30 PM
Join the City of Cambridge's neighborhood revitalization team for a walking tour highlighting housing opportunities and urban development. Explore various sites at different stages of the city's revitalization plan, from acquisition to occupancy, and gain insights into community transformation.

Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman Tour
November 6, 3:30 - 5:00 PM
Explore Cambridge's history with the Harriet Tubman Tour, a captivating under-two-mile journey starting at the local museum. Led by Tubman Museum Director Linda Harris, founder of “We Walk With Harriet, this walking musical lecture traces Harriet Tubman’s extraordinary life from her birthplace and provides a deep connection to her legacy.

Charting Economic Development and Tourism
November 8, 2:30 - 4:00 PM
Discover Cambridge's maritime heritage on the Waterways Economic Development Tour. Explore how the Choptank River and City Marina have driven economic growth, and end with a visit to the Choptank River Lighthouse and its museum, celebrating Dorchester County's maritime history. Ideal for those interested in leveraging local natural resources and future tourism opportunities.

Don't miss the opportunity to experience your choice of one of the three tours being offered. Sign up today!

MML’s Excellence in Leadership Fall Conference will connect your organization with attendees who represent 160 local governments across Maryland. Make a lasting impact on Maryland communities while gaining valuable exposure for your brand and mission. Join us in shaping the future of our communities and be recognized as a catalyst for positive change. 

Why Sponsor? 

The Maryland Department of Budget and Management’s Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) has begun publishing Grant Summary Reports on open Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) grant programs potentially applicable to Maryland municipalities with open Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). Grant Summary Reports have been published on Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants (currently open for applications), the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program (currently open for applications), and the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program (now closed for applications).