Page 4 – Conduit Street

#MACoCon Recap: Environmental Finance Center’s Rural Offerings

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees learned about how UMD's Enviro. The Finance Center can help rural counties secure additional resources. MACo’s Rural County Coalition provides a forum for Maryland’s rural counties to share their unique perspective on critical state and federal policy issues. At this meeting, the University of Maryland’s Environmental Finance Center walked through services and opportunities to help rural leaders access grant funding and other resources to better serve their communities. Additionally, rural…

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December 16, 2025

Economic Development / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: A Modern Toolkit for County Economic Development

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees heard about different county tools to spur economic development. As economic development challenges grow more complex, counties rely on incentives to attract new investment and sustain local businesses. From tax credits and infrastructure grants to strategic partnerships with state and federal programs, understanding which incentives truly move the needle has never been more important. This session, “Incentives That Work: A Modern Toolkit for County Economic Development”, brought together experts…

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December 15, 2025

Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: The Role of Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees learned about the history and role of APFOs and identified areas for improvement. Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances (APFOs) help counties manage growth by linking new development to the capacity of schools, roads, water, sewer, and other services so infrastructure and taxpayers aren’t overwhelmed. They’ve also become controversial, with critics arguing that strict standards or long delays can be used to block housing, drive up costs, or push growth to…

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December 15, 2025

Transportation and Public Works / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: Understanding MDOT’s “Project Scorecard”

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees heard about MDOT's proposed changes to its project-scoring criteria for state-funded projects. A common concern, both inside and outside Annapolis, is that the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) project scoring process lacks clarity. For years, counties have submitted applications with little insight into why some projects are funded while others are not, fueling frustration and offering few lessons for improving future submissions. Over the interim, MDOT has met with…

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December 15, 2025

Energy / Environment / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: What Battery Storage Means for Maryland Counties

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees heard about the challenges and opportunities related to battery energy storage systems. County governments sit at the intersection of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and local community priorities, with responsibilities that span land-use review, permitting, and coordination with public safety agencies. Storage projects can affect grid reliability and electricity system costs, and they raise important questions around safety standards, emergency response planning, and ongoing operations and maintenance. As the…

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December 15, 2025

Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: Housing at the Crossroads

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees participated in a robust conversation on Maryland's housing outlook. County governments play a vital role in shaping the look, smell, and feel of our communities. As the level of government closest to residents, counties have been at the table — working proactively with state leaders and stakeholders to advance practical, locally informed solutions that increase housing production. However, amid a national affordable housing crisis, state-level proposals increasingly favor top-down…

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December 15, 2025

County News / Feature / Winter Conference

2026 MACo Leadership Installed at Winter Conference

The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) is pleased to announce the installation of the 2026 Board of Directors and Officers. On Thursday evening, December 11, 2025, the Governor of Maryland, Wes Moore, installed the MACo Board of Directors for 2026. The installation took place at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, Maryland, during the MACo Winter Conference Inaugural Banquet. I am so incredibly humbled and so honored to be able to serve you as…

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December 12, 2025

Winter Conference

Winter #MACoCon Solutions Showcase Features Industry Leaders and Best Practices

MACo’s Winter Conference Solutions Showcase will feature innovative and effective ways to address county governance challenges. Join us to hear from industry experts and thought leaders on how your county and organization might be able to streamline, save money, and achieve your goals! The Solutions Showcase schedule is listed below… WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2025 Prioritizing Your Emotional Well-Being − Building Resilience Hosted by Cigna Healthcare Building resilience helps you leverage healthy coping skills when experiencing…

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December 5, 2025

Winter Conference

Streamlining Engagement and Consistent Branding at Winter #MACoCon

Effective communication requires clear branding and accessible design tools that help governments tell their story. This MACoCon session will feature branding strategist Angela Visintainer and government communications leader Renesha Alphonso as they share how to build a consistent visual identity and use Canva to quickly and efficiently produce professional, on-brand graphics. They'll dive into real examples, practical tips, and actionable workflows for county staff at all experience levels. If you're interested in learning how to…

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December 3, 2025

County News / Winter Conference

The #1 Thing to Do Before Winter #MACoCon? Download the MACo App

MACo’s Winter Conference is just ONE WEEK AWAY! Preview the event and plan your time with our NEW mobile app – thanks to Lead Sponsor Nationwide Retirement Solutions. Instructions for your download: DELETE the old MACo app, if you have it – this one is all new! Access the App Store/Google Play: Search “MACoCon” or click these links: APPLE DOWNLOAD | ANDROID DOWNLOAD Download the FREE app (thanks to Nationwide Retirement Solutions.) Use the same email address you used…

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December 3, 2025