MACo Mourns the Loss of Bill Ratchford, Leader and Friend

William Sawtelle Ratchford II (Bill), of Annapolis, MD, passed away peacefully at his home on April 23, 2023. Bill was a beloved and revered figure in the Maryland political sphere and in the county community, having served as MACo Executive Secretary and later for many years as Director of the MD General Assembly's Department of Fiscal Services. Bill was a dedicated public servant. He was a former Air Force Lieutenant and University of Maryland graduate…

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Longtime County HR Leader Kim Frock Joins MACo Team as Research Coordinator

MACo has welcomed Kim Frock to the association's staff, where she will serve counties as Research Coordinator. She previously served as Carroll County's Human Resources Director, and as leader of MACo's professional affiliate group. As Research Coordinator, Ms. Frock will lead MACo's research efforts, including the re-deployment of an annual salary and compensation survey across the county membership, and help support bill and fiscal note tracking during the General Assembly session. Ms. Frock will also…

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Navigate Annapolis and Advocate Effectively with MACo’s FREE Training

MACo’s 2022 Annapolis Immersion Training will be held on Thursday, December 15, at the Governor Calvert House in Annapolis from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. MACo is thrilled to announce the return of our annual Annapolis Immersion training program to help county officials and professionals navigate the Maryland General Assembly Session. This training is perfect as a primer for new officials and new legislative staff, or as a refresher for returning officials and staff. The…

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MACo’s Sarah Sample Advances to Associate Policy Director

MACo's newest hire is advancing from Research Coordinator to Associate Policy Director. Sarah Sample, new to the MACo staff in August and making her first appearance at the recent summer conference, will advance to a fully fledged role with the MACo policy team, taking on a portfolio of issues including public health, public safety and corrections, and legal/liability issues. D'Paul Nibber, a member of the policy team for a bit more than one year, resigned…

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MACo’s Fall Symposium: Deep Conversations on Housing – Register Today!

Every year, MACo hosts a one-day symposium for county officials and professionals to dive deeply into a hot topic. The 2022 Fall Symposium will be held on October 19 and will focus on affordable housing and the planning/zoning, infrastructure, socioeconomic, and environmental factors involved. 2022 MACo Fall Symposium Missing Home: Deep Conversations on Housing Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2022  |  Time: 9:30 am - 3:15 pm Location: Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters Local 1563…

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County and Municipal Officials Celebrate Academy for Excellence Graduation

The Academy for Excellence in Local Governance celebrated its 2022 graduates on Sunday, September 18, at the University of Maryland. The Academy, voluntary certificate program, was co-founded by MACo and the Maryland Municipal League (MML). It is sponsored by the Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT) and coordinated through the School of Public Policy of the University of Maryland. Enrolled local government officials are required to take a set of core and elective classes, all available…

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NACo Unveils Housing Solutions Matchmaker Tool

Understanding how housing environments vary significantly across the nation, the National Association of Counties unveiled the "Housing Solutions Matchmaker Tool," a utility intended to help county officials develop policies tailored to their communities. The tool, launched at NACo's 2022 Annual Conference and Exposition, will assist officials with understanding their housing market and provide potentially helpful resources and policies to address key challenges. The Brookings Institute and Aspen Institute lent their expertise to develop the matchmaker…

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Pandemic Partnerships: Rebuilding Small Businesses

Across Maryland, numerous small businesses faced near-certain collapse due to the havoc caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.   County governments were charged by the state and federal governments, as well as their constituents, with finding innovative and impactful means to get assistance to businesses most in need. Pandemic Partnerships: Rebuilding Small Businesses Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, small business operations have suffered immensely whether through reduced consumer demand or intense emergency-related regulatory requirements. Counties have been…

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MD Cybersecurity Firms Expand Reach Abroad

Seven Maryland cybersecurity firms attended "Infosecurity Europe 2022," a conference held in London, England, from June 21st through 23rd. According to the Daily Record, "[w]hen the Maryland Department of Commerce heard that some Maryland-based companies were planning to attend the conference, they reached out to others to gauge their interest." During the conference, attendees networked and established new contacts, met firms with similar products, and secured new clients. The news outlet reported the following cybersecurity firms…

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