Community engagement is how we make progress in this county, and the hard stuff only gets done when our residents speak up.

I’m asking you to take a look at a resolution before the County Council that could do more to engage residents in the process of selecting our leaders and shaping our future than any we’ve proposed before.

On Monday, February 7, the County Council will vote on whether to put before the voters in this year’s election a proposal to create a small donor campaign finance system. It’s Resolution 1-22.

We encourage all our residents to celebrate the many contributions made by African Americans and to learn about this important history and our continued need to battle racism to build a society that lives up to its democratic ideals.

View our proclamation for Black History Month and learn more about African American History & Heritage in Anne Arundel County.

In celebration of Black History Month, Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section is excited to unveil a new virtual tour that explores the Civil Rights Era in Anne Arundel County, MD.

This online story map features more than 50 oral history interviews collected from residents across the County and is presented as a tour of local places, people, and everyday experiences during a time of segregation. It documents spaces of leisure and recreation, where people of color could gather and enjoy solidarity and empowerment; places like stores, ball fields, beaches, juke joints, movie theaters, beauty salons, and barbershops.

Read the full press release and view the virtual tour and experience local history through the eyes and stories of those who lived it.

The final technical report for the Poplar Trail Extension to South Shore Trail Feasibility Study has been posted and is available online for you to view. The focus of the study is to evaluate three alternative route alignments to close a gap in the existing trail network and provide a link between western Annapolis, Parole, and points to the north.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced that Anne Arundel County’s new employee medical benefits, offered through Aetna, will include gender-affirming health services for employees and dependents. The new employee medical benefits went into effect on January 1, 2022 after internal announcements and employee informational sessions.

Read the full press release.

The Department of Inspections and Permits announced today it will temporarily close the Permit Center and the Licensing Office to the public on February 23rd, 24th and 25th as the department transitions to the Land Use Navigator (LUN) permitting platform. Monday, February 21, 2022 all county government offices will be closed in observance of Presidents Day.

Read the full press release.

Register now for the virtual job fair and visit the Recs and Parks jobs page to see all available positions.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and Arundel Community Development Services, Inc. (ACDS) announced today that the application period is now open for Community Support Grants. The community grant programs offers FY 2023 funding for eligible nonprofit organizations that provide vital services to county residents.

Learn more about the grants program.

The Laurel Race Course Impact Fund provides grants each year for services and facilities that benefit communities within three miles of the Laurel Race Course. Applications are open now through February 16, 2022 for FY23 grants.

Learn more and apply now.

The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County invests in the local arts community through grantmaking. The Community Arts Grant is their capstone program and provides general operating funds to the county’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organizations. Twice a year, they offer Mini Grants to a broader range of organizations, with the goal of supporting high-impact projects that reach new audiences or fill a gap within the community.

Check out their grant opportunities.

AAWGT is particularly interested in proposals that support women and families and also prioritize issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to address the underlying causes of hardship and/or come from organizations with annual gross receipts of less than $100,000.

Click here to learn more.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and the Office of Transportation released a new interactive web map that will allow residents to submit input for the County’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan (PBMP), Walk & Roll Anne Arundel! This initial opportunity to provide input on Walk & Roll Anne Arundel! will be available to the public from Jan. 25 through March 1, 2022.

Walk & Roll Anne Arundel! will encompass the entire County and support the objectives of the approved Move Anne Arundel! transportation functional master plan. Move Anne Arundel! calls for safe, accessible and equitable mobility alternatives to motor vehicles in order to relieve traffic congestion, protect the environment, improve health and create a more attractive place to live, work, learn and play.

To participate in this important plan development and learn more visit www.aacounty.org/walkroll.

To read and comment on the plan, visit www.aacounty.org/visionzero

Below is a list of the legislation receiving a public hearing at the upcoming County Council meeting. Come and let your voice be heard during the public comment period for each of these! The legislation scheduled to be heard at the next County Council meeting is subject to change. Click here for an up-to-date list and to see other legislation that has been introduced but isn't scheduled for a hearing at the next meeting.

The Department of Recreation and Parks will host two virtual Town Hall meetings to present the draft 2022 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan (LPPRP) and receive citizen comments. The Plan evaluates the demand for parklands and recreational facilities based on need, proximity, and equity and outlines goals and priorities for the next five, ten, and fifteen years. Use the links below to register and click here for more information.

Residents can view a calendar of upcoming meetings in their area, review site plans and other documents, attend virtual meetings, watch previously recorded meetings, and provide public comments directly to the Office of Planning and Zoning - all through the new Community Meetings website. See a partial list of upcoming meetings below and click here for more details and to view the full calendar.

Visit the County's Department of Health Website for more information.

For media inquiries, please contact Jeff Amoros at examor21@aacounty.org