AI That Works: Practical Use Cases for County Government at #MACoCon

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future conversation for government; it's becoming a practical tool for solving everyday operational challenges. Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how organizations work, and state and local governments are beginning to identify where these tools can deliver meaningful value. As local governments explore these opportunities, they must also address important questions around governance, data privacy, procurement, workforce impacts, transparency, and public trust. Rather than focusing on what's possible in theory,…

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Moving at the Speed of Need: Permitting for Maryland’s Future

Hear how the state and counties are working to improve permitting in Maryland. The pressure on counties to perfect permit review continues to grow as counties work to meet rising constituent expectations for housing, infrastructure, affordability, and responsive government services. Clear requirements, predictable timelines, and strong coordination across agencies can reduce delays, provide more certainty, and help projects move forward faster. At the same time, counties must carefully balance a complex mix of federal, state,…

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From Risk to Resilience: Local Tools for a Stronger Maryland

Hear how coordinating DPWs with emergency management can strengthen response and protect critical infrastructure.  Resilience planning helps counties prepare for disruptions, protect critical infrastructure, and maintain essential services. By coordinating various aspects of core operation (i.e. public works and emergency management), counties can identify vulnerabilities, strengthen infrastructure, and improve how resources are deployed before, during, and after a disaster. This approach supports faster recovery, reduces long-term costs, and helps communities remain safe and operational under…

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Scott Lesnick Previews Opening Keynote for #MACoCon

How can county leaders build stronger teams while navigating workforce challenges, emerging technology, and constant change? In a new video message to attendees, opening keynote speaker Scott Lesnick shares a preview of what county leaders can expect during his Thursday morning keynote at MACo's 2026 Summer Conference. During the keynote, "Building What's Next: Supporting Organizational Productivity, Collaboration & People Inside/Out," Lesnick will explore leadership strategies for today's public sector, including recruitment and retention, collaboration, communication,…

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The Future of Energy, The Affordable Bill

 MACo’s 2026 Summer Conference Solutions Showcase features thought leaders and industry experts presenting resources and best practices to assist local governments. Check out this session hosted by BGE!  About BGE:  Headquartered in Baltimore, BGE is Maryland's largest natural gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.3 million electric customers in central Maryland. With a history of more than 200 years of service as the first gas utility in the U.S., BGE has a long-standing commitment to their customers and the community. It began in…

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The 5 Steps to Cyber Resilience: Maturing Your Cyber Resilience Program 

MACo’s 2026 Summer Conference Solutions Showcase features thought leaders and industry experts presenting resources and best practices to assist local governments. Check out this session hosted by Cohesity!   About Cohesity:  Cohesity, Inc. specializes in software that enables IT professionals to consolidate, manage, and gain insights from data across multiple systems and cloud providers, addressing challenges of data fragmentation and security. Cohesity’s main products include DataPlatform, a hyper-converged platform for consolidating workloads, and DataProtect, a backup and recovery solution running on DataPlatform. The company also offers Helios, a…

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2 Things You Can Do To Make Sure You’re #MACoCon Ready!

Here are two things you can do to prep for Summer #MACoCon (if you haven’t already) 1. REGISTER! This Saturday, August 1, 2026, is the deadline for Early Registration for MACo’s 2026 Summer Conference. That means Late Registration rates take effect on August 2! REGISTER TODAY for our lowest available rates. Want to see who’s going? 2. Check Out the Program of Events The full program of events and educational sessions is now available: View the Program. Take a…

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Maryland in 50 Years and Beyond – Wednesday Wrap-up Session at #MACoCon

At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, county leaders will close out the loaded Wednesday agenda with a longer look -- stepping back, and contemplating what Maryland's future looks like in 50 years, and beyond. "Who is not in the room?" as today's decision-makers contemplate actions that have long term effect? Both state and county leaders make decisions on infrastructure, education, workforce, and other quality-of-life matters that will alter the state, and our local communities for…

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Governments Expand AI Training for Employees

As counties explore new AI tools, many governments are discovering that workforce training and AI literacy are essential to successful implementation. As covered in a Government Technology article, artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a part of government operations. State and local governments are expanding AI literacy programs to help employees use the technology responsibly and securely. While AI adoption continues to grow, many public employees still need foundational training before they can confidently integrate AI…

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State Awards $1.2M for Local Parks and Recreation

Earlier this month, the Board of Public Works approved more than $1.18 million in grants to support parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, and recreational facilities in six counties through three Maryland Department of Natural Resources programs. The July 1 approvals include funding through Program Open Space - Local, the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program, and the Community Parks and Playgrounds Program, helping counties and municipalities improve recreational amenities and expand outdoor opportunities for residents. Approximately…

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