Speaker Discussing Cannabis Regulation Process in MD

Another successful MACo Summer Conference has ended. Our 2017 Summer Conference focused on Maryland's economy and how counties can nurture existing industries and encourage emerging ones to flourish.  Participants learned about the best practices and partnerships available to them to help them succeed and bring businesses to Maryland.

This year's conference saw the highest number of registrants in recent history - 1,142 county elected officials, county professionals, legislators, and state government and commercial representatives attended the conference, along with 969 exhibit booth personnel, manning 241 booths.   

Senator Cardin Town Hall

Attendees participated in sessions on a multitude of topics, including the Open Meetings Act, TechHire, biotechnology, cannabusiness, food trucks, public safety hiring, and dementia services...just to name a few. Speakers and special guests included Congressmen, State Secretaries, Legislators, and Governor Hogan. U.S. Senator Ben Cardin hosted a Town Hall Forum and talked with conference attendees about Federal issues and their impact on the local level. You can view the entire Program of Events online.   Back for its second year - and now a fixture at MACo's Summer Conference, due to its popularity - the Wednesday Tech Expo attracted hundreds of technology-minded government officials. Held on Wednesday of the conference, the Expo highlighted 49 technology-focused vendors who gave hands-on demonstrations of their products and services, along with 2 in-depth sessions on biotechnology and virtual reality. Participants learned why Maryland is poised to become a national hub for biotechnology and how virtual reality will change the way counties market themselves. The one-day-only vendor showcase of the tech vendors was a huge hit and MACo is already planning to bring back the Tech Expo for 2018!