Dear Members,

From vibrant scenery to rich history, don't miss the chance to experience what the Western region of Maryland has to offer during the Excellence in Leadership Fall Conference in October.

Since June 2024, the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) has issued approximately 191 grower, processor, and dispensary conditional licenses in its first licensing round. Conditional licensees are now in various stages of becoming operational, which includes obtaining local zoning approval for a business location. A conditional licensee must obtain local zoning approval before MCA can issue a final license.

State law delegates authority to Maryland’s counties and municipalities to adopt reasonable zoning requirements for cannabis businesses within the parameters established in Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article §36-410. The MCA is not authorized to make zoning determinations on behalf of political subdivisions and defers to them to make determinations for their communities, provided they are not unduly burdensome, e.g., more restrictive than the parameters in Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article §36-410. 

The Maryland Community Investment Corporation (MCIC) is a new entity created by Governor Moore’s administration to bring equitable, community-driven investment to Maryland. It aims to connect grassroots organizations, developers, and anchor institutions to funding opportunities and technical assistance - especially through tools like the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program. 

MCIC's goal is to bridge the gap for organizations that have historically been left out of complex funding programs, with a focus on:

The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) is presenting a webinar, Building Local Resilience, on Wednesday, August 27 between noon and 1:30 p.m. Panelists will discuss methods for constructing resilient communities through guidance, resources, and planning best practices. The webinar will address the foundations of resilience at the local level, highlighting strategies such as Resilience Hubs and other capital projects that deliver the needs of the public and protect infrastructure. MDP will be joined by resilience partners from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), the City of Baltimore, and Groundswell. Groundswell is a nonprofit that builds community power through community solar projects and resilience centers, clean energy programs that reduce energy burdens, and research initiatives that support clean energy futures for all.

The Maryland Municipal League's 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. The Awards will be presented at the 2025 Excellence in Leadership Fall Conference, which will be held October 12-14 at the Wisp Resort in McHenry, Maryland.

Municipalities will be recognized in four areas of governing excellence:

New to registering for a MML Conference? Need a refresher on how to register someone on their behalf? 

Our final virtual Event Registration Office Hours meeting will be August 15 from Noon until 1 p.m. You can jump onto the call during that time if you need assistance or have questions as you are registering for the Fall Conference.

As part of the process to determine the MML legislative priorities for the 2026 General Assembly session, the Legislative Committee discussed 19 Legislative Action Requests (LARs). Over the course of two meetings, MML staff presented the background and history on each LAR at which point the Committee asked questions and debated the merits of the proposals. At the conclusion of the second meeting the Committee voted to recommend one priority: Modernizing Municipal Revenue Streams. As legislation in 2026, this priority could manifest in several different forms, the details of which will be ironed out in the coming months as MML staff meets with stakeholders and policymakers. 

The Committee also voted to adopt a strategic initiative involving the incorporation of new municipalities. This issue has been debated in the General Assembly the past few years and adopting it as a strategic initiative will allow MML to highlight its importance with policymakers.

Still need to register for FallCon25? Be sure to lock in your registration during the early bird period while there's still time. The early bird rate ends on August 20, and you wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to join us in Western Maryland for the first time in over 20 years.

The summer issue of the National Civic Review explores how communities are revitalizing democracy through civic tradition, collaborative leadership, and local innovation. Articles highlight the promise of citizen-focused democracy, strategies like fusion voting, and reforms to make public meetings more inclusive.

Contributors examine how storytelling shapes civic life, how cities are improving street safety, and what today’s local leaders can learn from historical figures. Together, these stories offer a hopeful view of how American communities can revitalize democracy through shared purpose, strategic innovation, and local leadership.

Explore the online edition of NCR. Access it here. 

From keynote speakers to dynamic entertainment, see the key moments captured from each MML event by visiting our Flickr account.

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Governor Wes Moore has announced the launch of the Local Government Energy Modernization Program, a major new funding opportunity to accelerate clean energy planning and deployment across Maryland’s incorporated towns, cities, and counties.

Administered by the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), the program will provide $64 million for planning and capital projects that reduce utility costs, modernize infrastructure, and advance Maryland’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions.

Join us Friday, August 1 for a timely panel series tackling Maryland’s most urgent energy and climate challenges. Hear directly from legislators, experts, and local leaders as they dive into the rising cost of energy, who it’s impacting most, and the solutions being put into action. Also, be there to learn how communities across the state are securing funding for climate projects and building strategies for long-term resilience. 

For a closer look at what’s in store, check out the full Summer Symposium agenda below

The Maryland Comptroller's Office and the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business recently released a new report that explores how federal workforce trends and budget shifts may impact local economies, public sector employment, and private industry.

Key Findings:

The National League of Cities has unveiled their new report and toolkit of AI and cities. This toolkit was formed in early 2024, with a committee of 20 local government leaders convening to assess the role of AI in cities and towns. Their work focused on three themes: understanding how AI works and its growing accessibility for municipalities of all sizes; evaluating ethical and responsible use of AI to mitigate risks; and exploring practical implementation through real-world case studies.

This report offers guidance to help local governments navigate and envision AI’s impact in their communities. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development invites applications for grants to provide strong rural communities the leadership and technical know-how to keep growing.

The funding is being made available through the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) program for fiscal year (FY) 2025. This program awards grants to qualified intermediary organizations to deliver financial and technical assistance that helps recipients build capacity to carry out projects related to housing, community facilities, and community and economic development.

Registration for Fall Conference 2025 kicks off on July 28. As we get closer to registration going live, don’t miss out on the opportunity to attend our Lunch and Learn webinar to help you prepare to get your officials signed up.

Join MML staff on Tuesday, July 22 at noon as we provide an overview of the event registration process that will include: