Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (COG) 2026 Climate and Energy Leadership Awards Program application submission deadline has been extended to Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Five projects will be awarded to:

• (2) GOVERNMENT AGENCY (local, state, regional, quasi-govt, utilities or authorities)
• Small Jurisdiction (population < 90k)
• Large Jurisdiction (population > 90k)
• (1) NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (non-profit, for-profit, citizen or community-based groups)
• (1) BUSINESS AND FOR-PROFIT
• (1) EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION (K-12, public, private, or higher education)

Through this program winners serve as a role model and are recognized in front of local, regional, and national officials for their innovative climate stewardship projects and programs that engage and serve the region’s underserved communities. Winning applicants will also be featured on the COG website through project descriptions and a short video.

MML’s most engaged members have reached the end of this year’s Banner City/Town journey and have earned their Banner City/Town designation. MML’s oldest ambassador program is a guidepost for members to make the most of their MML membership as these municipalities have done.

Congratulations to MML’s 2026 Banner Cities and Towns:

Bel Air, Berwyn Heights, Bladensburg, Brentwood, Brunswick, Cambridge, Cottage City, Cumberland, Denton, Edmonston, Emmitsburg, Friendsville, Frostburg, Gaithersburg, Galena, Glenarden, Greenbelt, Hagerstown, Hampstead, Hyattsville, Keedysville, La Plata, Laurel, Mount Airy, Mount Rainier, New Carrollton, North Brentwood, Pocomoke City, Rockville, Salisbury, Seat Pleasant, Somerset, Sykesville, Takoma Park, Taneytown, Union Bridge, Upper Marlboro, Westminster

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.

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. 

This year’s fourth grade "If I Were Mayor, I Would..." essay contest winners captured the volunteer readers and finalist judges’ attention with their dynamic essays.

Thank you to our volunteer readers, who were so impressed by the essays they would sometimes forget the ideas were from fourth graders.

Banner City/Town Contenders –  Your Journey to the May 11 Deadline

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.

First Call for the Hall – Are You a MML Hall of Famer?

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 286 municipal Hall of Famers.

Deadline extended to March 5. The National Civic League invites tribes, towns, cities, counties, and regions to apply for the 2026 All-America City Award, the nation’s most prestigious community recognition. For 77 years, the award has honored communities that embody the spirit of democracy through collaboration, innovation, and civic engagement. 

2026 Theme

Get ready for another year of exciting and memorable events. From virtual webinars to our annual "If I were mayor, I would..." Essay Contest ceremony, you won't want to miss out. Save the dates for all MML events and stay in the loop with any updates, as we prepare for our special 90th anniversary celebration!

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

MML’s most engaged members have reached the end of this year’s Banner City/Town journey and have earned their Banner City/Town designation. MML’s oldest ambassador program is a guidepost for members to make the most of their MML membership as these municipalities have done.

Congratulations to MML's 2025 Banner Cities and Towns:

Bel Air, Berwyn Heights, Bladensburg, Brentwood, Brunswick, Cheverly, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, Denton, District Heights, Edmonston, Emmitsburg, Frederick, Friendsville, Frostburg, Gaithersburg, Glenarden, Greenbelt, Hagerstown, Hampstead, Hebron, Hyattsville, Keedysville, Kensington, La Plata, Laurel, Leonardtown, Middletown, Mount Airy, Mount Rainier, New Carrollton, North Beach, North Brentwood, Preston, Rising Sun, Rockville, Seat Pleasant, Sykesville, Takoma Park, Taneytown, Thurmont, Union Bridge, Upper Marlboro, Westminster, Williamsport

Each year, we’re pleased to honor those elected officials that have dedicated 20 or more years to Maryland’s municipalities. Nominations are being accepted for the MML Hall of Fame through May 30. The 2025 candidates will be honored during the summer conference. Self-nominations are welcome.

Stroll through our Hall of Fame to see the municipal officials who have decades of service to their municipalities.

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.

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 276 municipal Hall of Famers who have 20 or more years of service.

We are nearing the end of the 2025 Banner City/Town year. Based on 2024 summer conference and 2024 fall conference attendance, our records indicate that 90 municipalities remain in contention for a 2025 designation. Now is the time to ensure that your city/town makes it to the finish line to receive recognition for your engagement in the League. 

We are excited to announce that all Banner Cities and Towns will be recognized in this year's Closing General Session at the summer conference. At our Closing Session we will shine the light on our most engaged municipalities. Those obtaining the 2025 designation will be provided closing session details closer to the summer conference.

MML’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a city/town elected or staff official with a strong record of service to MML and the cities and towns of Maryland. Criteria considered include:

• Participation on MML committees
• Participation on the MML Board of Directors
• Active involvement with the local League chapter
• Demonstration of outstanding service to Maryland municipal government

 The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at MML’s summer conference in Ocean City, June 22-25.  Nominees can be current or former municipal officials. The deadline to nominate is April 15.

This year’s fourth grade "If I Were Mayor I Would..." essay contest winners captivated the volunteer readers and finalist judges’ attention with their compelling essays. 

Thank you to our volunteer readers, who were so impressed with the essays that they sometimes overlooked the fact that the ideas came from fourth graders!

MML’s longest running ambassador program, the If I Were Mayor, I Would…essay contest deadline is fast approaching. There’s still time for fourth-grade teachers to enter their students in our 25-year contest before the March 7 deadline.

The essay contest is open to all Maryland fourth graders, including home schooled students. Please have your fourth grade teachers visit our website for the essay contest information and submission form.

MML’s annual “If I Were Mayor, I Would…" essay contest is the League's oldest ambassador program. The 25-year-old contest educates fourth graders (and teachers) about municipal government and the role of the mayor. 

There’s still time to visit your local schools to encourage fourth-grade teachers to enter their students in our contest before the March 7 deadline.