County Leaders Explore the Tourism of Tomorrow at #MACoCon

At the 2023 MACo Summer Conference, an expert panel discussed the new trends in tourism and how to leverage the evolving industry for workforce and economic development. At the 2023 MACo Summer Conference panel, “Transformational Tourism – Turning Today‘s Opportunities Into Tomorrow‘s Necessities,” experts discussed new trends in the tourism industry, exciting opportunities, and how to best leverage today‘s tourism to transform the local economy.  Panel speakers Kelly Groff, President and CEO, Visit Montgomery Terry…

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Baltimore County Acquires Pikesville Armory for Historic Site Redevelopment

Following a vote by the Maryland Board of Public Works, Baltimore County officials today announced that Baltimore County will be acquiring ownership of the historic Pikesville Armory from the State of Maryland. “Today is a vital step forward in our ongoing work to reimagine this historic site as a thriving community anchor for Pikesville,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “I am proud of our administration’s unprecedented commitment and investment to this project and look forward…

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ICYMI: Gov. Moore Charts New Course on Chesapeake Bay Clean-Up

As no state in the Chesapeake Bay watershed is set to meet its 2025 improvement targets, Governor Moore announced a new strategy for improving the Bay.  This past July, during an Eastern Shore “Bay Day” tour, Governor Wes Moore announced a major policy shift in how Maryland will deploy state resources to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways to restore the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays. At points throughout the day,…

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The Future of Ag – It’s More Than Farming 

During the MACo Summer Conference panel, The Future of Ag – It's More Than Farming, panelists will discuss agriculture for the 21st century.  Agriculture is one of the most underutilized economic unlocks waiting to help further grow Maryland's economy. From food deserts to urban revitalization and everything in between, agriculture can be an amazing tool to address many of the challenges facing counties. The Future of Ag – It's More Than Farming  Description: From food…

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State Announces Seven New and Redesignated Enterprise Zones Across Several Counties

Governor Wes Moore announced that the Maryland Department of Commerce approved three new Enterprise Zones – Woodlawn in Baltimore County, the towns of Betterton and Worton in Kent County, and the town of Snow Hill in Worcester County. The department also approved redesigning and expanding an existing zone in the town of Princess Anne in Somerset County and existing zones in Baltimore County’s Southwest area, Cecil County, and the City of Cambridge in Dorchester County.…

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5 Reasons Not to Miss the #MACoCon Exhibit Hall

MACo’s Summer Conference Exhibit Hall is full of vendors wanting to make your work easier, more cost-effective, and more efficient. Here are some great reasons to make sure you visit the exhibit hall and see how these companies, state departments, and nonprofits can help you! A big “thank you” to the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters for their sponsorship of MACo’s exhibit hall! 1. Make lasting partnerships 300 exhibiting companies will be waiting to talk to you…

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FREE NACo Webinars on Document Management, Grant Administration, Recreation, and Employee Financial Resiliency

Every month the National Association of Counties (NACo) hosts free webinars to provide county leaders and professionals wit knowledge on best practices and hot topics in various areas. Join NACo for the following webinars in July and August: Solving Government Forms and Document Management Challenges July 12th - 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm         REGISTRATION Overview - Modernizing government systems and services is a top priority that QuickBase seeks to address in the…

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Transformational Tourism – Turning Today’s Opportunities Into Tomorrow’s Necessities

Tourism – a major economic driver in Maryland – looks very different now than it did a generation ago. Like many county service areas, tourism has experienced significant challenges and found new opportunities post-COVID. Counties across Maryland are embracing the new "work from anywhere" corporate mindset, and hot new travel trends like eco- and agro-tourism have opened up a world of possibilities. The legalization of adult-use cannabis may also become its own factor in Maryland's…

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Harford Empowers Nonprofits to Encourage Tourism in the County

Harford County awarded 15 nonprofits $645,000 to encourage overnight tourism to the county. Harford County has awarded nearly $645,000 in FY 2024 tourism grants to 15 local nonprofits aimed at creating "more extended or weekend-long events that increase the number of overnight visitors" to the county. The tourism grants, which have been around for a while, were reorganized into two new funds: the Partnership Fund and the Harford Strides Fund. The reorganization was part of…

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A Brief History of a Watershed’s Journey: 64,000 Square Miles of Adventure on the Chesapeake Bay

Each June during the Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week, counties across Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania take nine days to celebrate the cultures, history, and natural beauty of the nation’s largest estuary. The week was originally created by the Chesapeake Bay Commission in 2016 and is now celebrated across the watershed; residents are encouraged to celebrate the week with events, activities, and educational programs to acknowledge the significance of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The 2023 theme, “Chesapeake…

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