Through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Community Partnership Program and the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Community Based Organization Capacity Building Initiative, the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) is partnering with the Center for Watershed Protection to provide workshops and technical assistance to community based organizations in Western Maryland interested in watershed restoration-focused grant programs. 

This program offers free assistance to Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) working in Western Maryland to strengthen their grant writing abilities in order to submit robust, competitive funding applications. Through this process, community organizations will increase their knowledge about funding opportunities and how to apply for funding, manage grants, and successfully implement restoration practices to improve water quality and reduce pollution in the watersheds. 

If your municipality or organization is interested in receiving free assistance and helping to inform the resources we develop, please fill out this short assessment.

The Maryland Municipal League’s Hall of Fame honors current or former municipal officials (living or deceased) that have served 20 years or more as a municipal elected official. Submissions are now open for those eligible elected officials to join the 284 MML Hall of Famers. Nominations must be received by May 11.

Eligible officials are inducted into the Hall of Fame and honored among your colleagues during the closing session of MML's 2026 summer conference in Ocean City. 

MML's Banner City/Town Program bestows formal recognition each year to cities and towns that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to MML programs and activities.  The program serves as a guidepost on how to make the most of your MML membership.

If your municipality has completed all of the Banner City/Town criteria, we want to celebrate your designation.

If you want everyone to enjoy what is special about your municipality, chapter or department, join us on Municipal Tuesday at the MML Main Street event, an exclusive member municipality showcase opportunity.

Registration for MML Main Street event includes:

Full description

Tuesday, June 16 at the MML Summer Conference is crafted with municipal professionals in mind. It is truly a full conference experience in one day and focused on celebrating municipalities and the staff who support them. Plan to join us on Municipal Tuesday and learn alongside the elected officials who you assist daily.

Municipal Tuesday Registration is now open. At $150 for one day, it is the most cost-effective way for municipal professionals to attend our conference who are looking to connect with colleagues and attend workshops specifically designed with the local government professional, in mind.

Your registration includes:

The Maryland Department of Labor (DoL) has released new details on the State's paid family leave program titled the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Program, with some of the provisions of the law starting this year.

Additionally, DoL is hosting a webinar about the program on April 21, you can register here.

The Maryland General Assembly concluded its 90-day legislative session on Monday, April 13. This was an incredibly successful year for the Maryland Municipal League (MML) including passing a priority bill for the third time in the past four years! Below is a recap of a handful of impactful bills. For a more in-depth summary, please see the article soon to be published in the Local and sign up for the Legislative Session Wrap Up webinar scheduled for April 28 from noon - 1:00 pm (Link to register).

MML Priority Bill

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.

Housed within the University of Maryland's National Center for Smart Growth, the Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability Program (PALS) pairs faculty expertise with student ingenuity to tackle sustainability issues facing Maryland communities. Partnering with local, county, and statewide Maryland agencies, PALS creates customized coursework to target specific economic, environmental and social sustainability challenges identified by the partner community. The collaborative university-community partnership delivers recommendations, strategies and tools to address a community’s most pressing challenges, providing a road map for creating sustainable, thriving places to live, work and play. Since its inception in 2014, PALS has directed over 400 customized courses toward site-specific projects across the state, addressing issues of capacity building, economic and community development, environmental sustainability, health and wellness, and social resilience, engaging over 800 students along the way.

On May 8, PALS students from the Fall 25 and Spring 26 semesters will present their projects in a poster showcase and will be available to discuss their work and experiences. Not only is attending the showcase an important way to support UMD students and learn more about their work in the community, but it is also a great opportunity to learn more about how participating in the PALS program can benefit your community or organization.

Full Press Release

Happy Sine Die!

Join us on April 28 at noon for a detailed 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up webinar. We’ll break down the most impactful policy developments, unpack the outcomes of major legislation, and discuss what it all means for our communities, stakeholders, and the road ahead.

There are still spots available to showcase your municipality on your MML Main Street! Don’t miss this exclusive showcase opportunity, limited to 12 municipalities or MML affiliates.

From waterfronts to mountain towns, participants can highlight what sets them apart and receive two Municipal Tuesday registrations for municipal staff.

Eleven more weeks until we're in Ocean City celebrating 90 years of local leadership! Until then, prepare yourself for #MMLCon26 by marking these key dates on your calendars

It's that time of year again as the League solicits legislative action requests (LARs) to be considered for MML priority legislation in the 2027 Maryland General Assembly session. All member municipalities and MML affiliate groups in good standing are eligible to submit up to three LARs (form). Submissions should focus on a policy area impacting the broader membership and requiring a fix through a change in State law. 

The deadline to return a completed LAR form is May 31. Additionally, each LAR submission must be approved by the elected body of the municipality or the full MML affiliate membership. The deadline to inform MML of this approval is July 1, 2026. For any questions, please contact Bill Jorch, [email protected]

Sine Die is days away!

Join us, April 28 at noon,  for the 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-up webinar focusing on reviewing key policy developments, discuss the outcomes of major legislation, and explore what these decisions mean for our communities, stakeholders, and future advocacy efforts. It will also serve as a space to ask questions to the Advocacy team regarding any policy, bills, future efforts, and next steps.

• The Goal: To evaluate and modernize the "fiscal toolbox" of local governments.
• The Focus: The task force will study current revenue sources, explore new options used in other states, and assess the impact of potential changes on the cost of living and overall affordability for residents.

1. Governor’s Signature: The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk for a formal signature.
2. Effective Date: Once signed, the Act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
3. Task Force Convening: The newly created body will formally convene shortly after the effective date to begin its study.  

A final report of findings and recommendations is due to the General Assembly by December 1, 2026.

Join us on Tuesday, June 16, as we celebrate Maryland's municipalities and the staff who support them. Municipal Tuesday offers a full conference experience in a single day with multiple ways for staff to attend at an exclusive rate. It's the most cost-effective way for municipal professionals to attend our conference.

The day consists of:

Join us on Sunday, June 14, as we kick off the Summer Conference Welcome Reception with Nashville sensation and Ocean City native Jimmy Charles.