The Municipal Technical Assistance Program is hosting a roundtable on Maryland ARPA Spending Trends and Success Stories on February 27th from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST. This roundtable-style webinar will review municipal 2023 ARPA spending trends and invite towns to share examples of ARPA-funded projects. ARPA funding has offered municipal leaders a significant opportunity to carry out projects and initiatives with a wide-ranging impact. And keep in mind that all ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) must be obligated by December 31, 2024.

If your town is still determining how best to apply this critical federal funding before the obligation deadline later this year, we welcome your participation! Click here to register

The upcoming 2024 Public Leaders for Inclusion Council is now accepting applications. Dynamic leaders in government are invited to be a part of this transformative experience! The Council, known for bringing together visionaries committed to fostering inclusive governance, is set to convene again.

This is your opportunity to join a prestigious cohort of leaders dedicated to driving positive change across diverse communities.

The Public Leaders for Inclusion Council (PLC) is a leadership development program that equips public (municipal, county, and State) servants in elected, appointed, and professional positions to explore practices and policies that challenge anti-Muslim racism and other forms of hate while building inclusion and social resilience in their communities.

Diverse Perspectives Wanted: We encourage leaders from various backgrounds and regions to apply. The council's strength lies in its members' diversity, each contributing a unique perspective to the collective mission of promoting inclusivity in public leadership.

Why Apply?

• Network with like-minded leaders from across the nation.
• Collaborate on innovative solutions for inclusive governance.
• Showcase your expertise and contribute to meaningful change.

Council details and application form and criteria may be found on the America Indivisible website:

Apply before the March 25 deadline.

MML is excited to share the Talent for Tomorrow: Digital Equity Challenge with you.  The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and MML Strategic Partner, Comcast Corporation recently announced a new grant award program to support the launch and expansion of local workforce programs designed to grow college and career readiness, close the digital skills gap, advance economic mobility, and lay the foundation for generational wealth in under-resourced communities.  

Mayors know firsthand the importance of digital training and access to the knowledge needed to prepare underserved communities for more equitable and inclusive jobs. They support the growth and development of a more highly skilled workforce and recognize that everyone benefits when the public sector partners with nonprofits and the private sector to connect and leverage vital resources to up-skill workers.

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 272 municipal Hall of Famers.

Eligible officials are inducted into the Hall of Fame and honored among your colleagues at MML's 2024 summer conference in Ocean City. 

The National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) Maryland State Chapter President Dylan O. Galloway, invites you to join him at the NFBPA Forum, being held in Baltimore, April 3 - 7, 2024. The event promises to be an invaluable opportunity for professional growth, networking, and collaboration. A special regional rate for Maryland residents has been made available. Visit the NFBPA webpage for more information and to register.

FORUM 2024 is a unique conference experience where public administrators professionals gather from across the country gather to exchange knowledge, resources, strategies, and solutions. Over 4 days of learning, growing, and finding inspiration, attendees are provided with support in their daily responsibilities as leaders in their workforce and communities. Whether you’re looking to learn about how other public administrators are responding to the public health crisis or the newest best practices for managing teams, FORUM 2024 has something for every public service professional.

The State of Maryland has significant connections to the founding of our Nation, and chances are that your city or town has physical structures that mark “What Happened Here on This Date.” As we countdown to 2026 and the Country’s 250^th Anniversary, the National Park Service under the U.S. Department of the Interior has announced the Semi-quincentennial Grant Program.

Open to local governments, this opportunity provides funds for physical preservation of a historic site, to include:

In-Person Workshops - Bike and Pedestrian Accessibility and Safety

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration is hosting five in-person workshops to provide information on grant opportunities focused on improving bicycle and pedestrian accessibility and safety throughout the state.

Build Connections at NLC's Congressional City Conference.

Be part of the coalition of 2000+ local leaders at NLC’s Congressional
City Conference advocating for local priorities. Meet and hear directly
from federal officials about current and upcoming funding opportunities
available to your city, town, or village.

Mark your calendars, registration for the 2024 Summer Conference is just around the corner. Join us in Ocean City for a transformative experience, connecting with Maryland's local government leaders and staff. Get ready for insightful sessions, workshops, and panels led by industry experts and state officials. Let's innovate together for the future of our communities. See you there!

 

The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) is starting to roll out FY22 and FY23 funding.

Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Congress established the State and
Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) to “award grants to eligible entities to address
cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to information systems owned or operated by, or
on behalf of, state, local, or tribal governments.”

View announcement for more details.

As of July 1, 2024, the Maryland Department of the Environment will require all facilities conducting monitoring regulated under Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 26.04.07.09, 26.04.07.17, 26.04.07.20 and/or 40 CFR Part 258 to analyze for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, PFBS, and HFPO-DA (commonly referred to as a GenX Chemical). The risk posed by exposure to PFAS is an emerging and evolving national concern. MDE is focused on:

• Understanding the risk through sampling, science, and assessment
• Communicating the risk through public information, and outreach
• Reducing unacceptable risks through appropriate funding, regulation, partnerships, and agency coordination.

MDE is focused first on determining if any locations in Maryland pose unacceptable risks to human health associated with exposures to PFAS, and whether there are locations of continuing releases of PFAS compounds.

Join Sustainable Maryland staff and energy finance experts on Monday, February 26 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. for a hybrid (in person and Zoom) leadership training on Accessing Funding for Climate and Energy-related Projects. Participants will learn about the Climate Solutions Now Act (CSNA); existing and upcoming funding opportunities related to building electrification, electric vehicle transition, adopting renewable energy, and best practices for securing funding. Details, including how to register, are available on Sustainable Maryland's Leadership Training events page.

 

Marketplace.city is partnering with Leading Cities, a nonprofit to advance government sustainability and resiliency, to help find communities for pre-paid pilots through their AcceliGOV program. Winners of the accelerator program, AcceliCITY, will receive money for a funded pilot (no financial commitment from the government), and Marketplace.city is helping with the outreach to potential partner communities. The pilot areas are:

• Solid Waste Solution
• Weather Data Solution
• EV Charging Solution
• Sustainability and Resilience Solution
• Clean Water Solution
• Emergency Response Solution

A full overview of the proposed pilot parameters and the companies involved can be found on AcceliGOV’s website.

Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response (MOOR) is pleased to announce our Competitive Grant Program for fiscal year 2025! The purpose of our Competitive Grant Program is to distribute funding to the highest-scoring proposals received from state and local governments, as well as from private and not-for-profit community-based partners, that align with Maryland’s strategic priorities and serve to meet some of the greatest needs around the State. The funding available for our Competitive Grant Program is approximately $6 million. For information on eligibility and requirements, as well as key dates and how to apply, visit the MOOR website.

 

Missed out on the opportunity to attend the recent Lunch and Learn Webinar on the NLC Affiliate Program? Watch and learn about the benefits associated with using the MML Affiliate status of the National League of Cities.

The recording can be found on our YouTube channel.

Registration is open for the 2024 Maryland Mayors Association Winter Conference and our spots are filling up! This two-day event is only available to current Mayors and takes place February 29th - March 1st in Annapolis. The event is packed with educational sessions, networking opportunities, and policy discussions with Maryland General Assembly leaders.

Registration closes on Sunday, February 4, please confirm your place and book accommodations today: visit us online.

The Maryland Municipal League and the City of Annapolis are excited to bring together stakeholders for the 2024 Opening Day Legislative Reception taking place Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the Governor Calvert House in downtown Annapolis.

We had a 1,500+ crowd in 2023, so please save the date on your calendar. Sponsorship opportunities are available, both for member cities and organizations. For more information, please contact Felicia Banuelos at [email protected] or Jane Bachman at [email protected].

Missed the chance to sit in during the recent Ethics Webinar? You can now watch the recording of the Ethics: Solicitation and Acceptance of Gifts Webinar featuring guest speaker Todd Turner, Executive Director of Prince George's County Office of Ethics and Accountability on the MML YouTube channel.

Please be sure to check our Year-At-A-Glance to stay up to date on the League's upcoming webinars, conferences, and events.

The League's longest running ambassador program, "If I were Mayor...I Would" is back. The program is designed to help Maryland's fourth graders grasp an understanding of municipal government and the role of a mayor. Each year, nearly 3,000 essays are submitted by students, describing how they would make their town/city/community a better place to live.

Join the Engagement and Outreach Committee during our virtual reading session on March 19. The essays are short, fun and insightful. Witness the great minds of Maryland's future community leaders during the virtual reading session by volunteering.