MML’s priority legislation, HB 1281, to allow municipalities to self-designate Tourism Zones will be heard in the House Ways & Means Committee on Thursday, February 29.

Modeled off a successful program in Virginia, this MML priority bill would authorize local governments to provide an array of local tax credits or waivers to businesses that aid in expanding tourism. This program would not only bolster the ability of jurisdictions to attract and retain community-oriented businesses, especially for those that lack access to other incentive programs, but to directly expand the State’s general revenue fund and attract new visitors to Maryland.

League priority bill SB 14 has received a favorable with amendment report from the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee ahead of the important crossover deadline. The crossfile, HB 1281, has been voted out of its subcommittee and is expected to have a vote in the full House Ways and Means committee soon.

As a refresher, these bills would enable Maryland’s 157 municipalities to establish Tourism Zones, bringing in new visitors, future residents and helping to attract new tourism-related business to cities, towns, and villages across the state. For more information and a recap on the hearing, please see our press release.

On the heels of yet another $250 million revenue writedown, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee’s budget report voted on Friday, March 8 did not adopt a recommendation to cut local Highway User Revenues (HURs) to 9.6% indefinitely.

Local governments currently receive 15.6% of Highway User Revenues, 2.4% of which is dedicated to municipalities. That figure was scheduled to increase due to MML priority legislation passed a few years ago. The DLS recommended cut to 9.6% is consistent with the major cuts made in 2009 that saw municipalities receive just 0.4%.

#MMLCon24 isn't just another event; it's a convergence of minds, a platform for change, and an opportunity to shape the future of Maryland's cities and towns and support the 2 million Marylanders who call a municipality home. As we gear up for thought leadership, inspiration and community service, be a part of the local government solution in Maryland.

Why Sponsor?

Digital and On-site Exposure: Secure sponsorship now - and your brand gets pushed out now, ahead of the conference and on-site. Website, email, social media and an app.  

• High-Visibility Events: From the opening and closing general sessions to keynote presentations, your brand will be prominently featured, leaving a lasting impression.
• Lead Generation: Decision makers from local government to our counterparts at the state and federal level attend this conference - bring your box of cards and get ready to connect.
• Beyond the Convention Center: Want to have your brand on the Boardwalk in front of vacationing families from across the Mid-Atlantic the week before July 4? We got you covered.

Click here for sponsor opportunities. Let us help you secure an MML sponsorship package to meet your specific business goals and create lasting relationships.

For more information contact, Felicia Banuelos.  

Check out the latest information on federal transportation grants, including municipal eligibility and application deadlines, using the U.S. Department of Transportation's Competitive Grant Funding Matrix. 

Grant programs of specific interest to MML members may include:

 

Mark your calendar for Thursday, May 2nd, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Annapolis, MD, for an all day Smart Growth Summit.The event will be led by the National Center for Smart Growth in partnership with Maryland Department of Planning, Maryland Municipal League, and Maryland Association of Counties.

To finalize the exact amounts that the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) Committee should allocate for each grant program, the Committee is seeking eligible entities' responses to whether they would like to sign up for the offered programs. The deadline to respond to this survey is: Friday, March 22nd, 2024.

Responding to this survey is imperative so that the SLCGP Committee can make final determinations on the allocation of precise dollar amounts for each program. 

Call for Grant Proposals - $140 Million Available for National Coastal Resilience Fund 2024

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) will award approximately $140 million in grants to create and restore natural systems to increase protection for communities from current and future coastal hazards and improve habitats for fish and wildlife species.  The goal is to enhance protection for coastal communities from the impacts of storms, floods, and other natural coastal hazards and to improve habitats for fish and wildlife.  The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will make investments in planning, design, and implementation of natural and nature-based solutions.

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. 

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.

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:

Announcing the inaugural MML Advocacy Day - MML members are welcome to join Mayors as we meet with state leadership, visit the Maryland State House and meet with MML’s chapter equivalent delegation chairs.

Please mark your calendars now for Advocacy Day, which will take place on February 29th, from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Governor Calvert House.

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.