Read more about the article Maryland Counties Can Now Host an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow
Economic Development / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Maryland Counties Can Now Host an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow

Counties can now apply to host an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow to accelerate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic The Economic Recovery Corps Program (ERC) is a multi-year, $30 million collaborative initiative designed to "accelerate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in distressed communities and regions throughout the U.S." by connecting organizations with the talent and capacity needed to "advance new ways of doing economic development that promote economic resilience and transformative change." The National Association of…

Comments Off on Maryland Counties Can Now Host an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow
May 24, 2023
Read more about the article Two Speed Bumps on Maryland’s EV Adoption
Economic Development / Energy / Environment / Feature / Policy Deep Dive / Transportation and Public Works
Two Speed Bumps on Maryland’s EV Adoption

This article is part of MACo’s Deep Dive series, where expert analysts explore and explain the top county issues of the day. A new article is added each week – read all of MACo’s Deep Dives. Climate change is universally recognized as one of the most significant challenges of the 21st century. The use of fossil fuels has led to tremendous advances in human civilization, but their use has also significantly deteriorated our environment. One of…

Comments Off on Two Speed Bumps on Maryland’s EV Adoption
May 24, 2023
Read more about the article Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Population Rebounds
Agriculture / Economic Development / Environment
Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Population Rebounds

The population of Blue Brabs in the Chesapeake Bay has risen to an estimated 323 million crabs, a significant boost from 2022's count of 227 million.  The Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey, a cooperative effort between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), estimates 323 million blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay in 2023, an increase from last year’s low of 227 million crabs. The number of spawning…

Comments Off on Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Population Rebounds
May 22, 2023
Read more about the article Baltimore Named “Workforce Hub” by New Federal Jobs Initiative
Coronavirus / County News / Economic Development / Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues
Baltimore Named “Workforce Hub” by New Federal Jobs Initiative

Baltimore City, along with four other cities, was named a “Workforce Hub,” under a new federal initiative aimed at matching more Americans with “good jobs and careers.” Baltimore City has been deemed a "Workforce Hub" as part of a federal effort to ensure that all Americans can access the jobs created by the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda, designed to jumpstart the economy as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Named alongside Baltimore as "Workforce Hubs"…

Comments Off on Baltimore Named “Workforce Hub” by New Federal Jobs Initiative
May 22, 2023
Read more about the article Maryland Gained 8K Jobs in April, Reached Historic Unemployment
County News / Economic Development / Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor
Maryland Gained 8K Jobs in April, Reached Historic Unemployment

In April, Maryland saw a significant uptick in hiring, continuing the post-COVID dip in unemployment, which reached historic lows. Updated employment data released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on May 19 showed that Maryland gained about 8,000 jobs in April and that the unemployment rate decreased to 2.5 percent — the third consecutive month of record-setting low unemployment in the state. In fact, the 2.5 percent rate is the lowest in…

Comments Off on Maryland Gained 8K Jobs in April, Reached Historic Unemployment
May 22, 2023
Read more about the article Register Now! May 22 USDOT Webinar on Discretionary Grant Opportunities
County News / Economic Development / Transportation and Public Works
Register Now! May 22 USDOT Webinar on Discretionary Grant Opportunities

On May 22 The US Department of Transportation will be hosting a webinar on "Identifying Discretionary Grant Opportunities".  Join speakers from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) Initiative and the Secretary’s Office for a webinar on May 22 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. EDT to learn more about how to identify and respond to Federal transportation grant opportunities. The webinar will showcase the USDOT Discretionary Grants Dashboard, a new…

Comments Off on Register Now! May 22 USDOT Webinar on Discretionary Grant Opportunities
May 18, 2023
Read more about the article USDA Launches Program to Cover Organics Certification for Farmers
Agriculture / Economic Development / Intergovernmental Relations
USDA Launches Program to Cover Organics Certification for Farmers

The USDA recently launched a program to cover up to 75% or $750 toward organic agricultural producer certifications.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will cover up to 75% of the costs associated with organic certification, up to $750 per category, through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). Maryland Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages organic agricultural producers and handlers to apply for OCCSP by Oct. 31, 2023, for expenses incurred from Oct. 1, 2022, through…

Comments Off on USDA Launches Program to Cover Organics Certification for Farmers
May 17, 2023
Read more about the article May 17 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know
Board of Public Works / Economic Development / Parks and Recreation / School Construction and Capital Budgets
May 17 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know

The Board of Public Works (BPW) — a three-member panel including GovernorWes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments. The BPW considered and approved the following requests and recommendations at its meeting on May 17, 2023: Allegany County A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit an additional $28,224 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds…

Comments Off on May 17 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know
May 17, 2023
Read more about the article Board of Public Works: May 17 Meeting Agenda
Board of Public Works / Economic Development / Parks and Recreation / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Board of Public Works: May 17 Meeting Agenda

The Board of Public Works — a three-member panel including Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments. The State Board of Public Works (BPW) typically convenes on alternating Wednesdays in the Governor’s Reception Room on the 2nd floor of the State House in Annapolis, and meetings are open to the public. They are also live-streamed on…

Comments Off on Board of Public Works: May 17 Meeting Agenda
May 16, 2023
Read more about the article Apply Today: New Federal Competition Supports Career Options for Students
County News / Economic Development / Education / Employee Benefits and Relations / Higher Education / Human Resources / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Apply Today: New Federal Competition Supports Career Options for Students

A new federal competition program with $2.5M in prizes aims to support schools connecting students with opportunities to get college credit, apprenticeships and industry credentials. The U.S. Department of Education's Career Z Challenge is a $2.5 million multi-phase federal prize competition managed by the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education. The prize competition seeks innovative ideas to expand work-based learning opportunities for America's high school students. The Career Z Challenge is part of the Biden-Harris…

Comments Off on Apply Today: New Federal Competition Supports Career Options for Students
May 9, 2023
Older Posts