Grant Opportunities
The Rural Maryland Council has been allocated over $9,000,000 in the Fiscal Year 2025 State Operating Budget for the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) and the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF). We thank Governor Wes Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson, and Speaker Adrienne Jones for prioritizing these funds, which will have a positive impact on the economic growth and sustainability of rural areas in Maryland.
Fiscal Year 2025 – Grant Awards Press Release
RMC Grant Programs
The Rural Maryland Council offers two grant programs. The Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) provides grants to rural-serving nonprofit organizations that promote statewide and regional planning; economic and community development; and agricultural and forestry education. Community colleges that provide enhanced training and technical assistance to support agricultural and small businesses are also eligible to apply. The goal of MAERDAF is to increase the overall capacity of rural serving nonprofit organizations and community colleges to meet a multitude of rural development challenges and to help them establish new public/private partnerships for leveraging non-state sources of funding.
The Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) provides grants that help raise the overall standard of living in rural areas to a level that meets or exceeds statewide benchmark averages by 2030 while preserving the best aspects of cultural heritage and rural way of life. Resources provided to RMPIF are designed to facilitate significant targeted investments in important economic and community development programs and promote regional and intergovernmental cooperation.
FY2025 Important Grant Dates
- Grant Process Opening: Monday, April 15, 2024
- Phase 1 – Call for Letter of Intent Deadline: Friday, May 17, 2024
- Applicants will be notified the week of June 9, 2024, on the Phase 1 decision.
- Phase 2 – Full Application Deadline: Friday, July 12, 2024
- Awards announced the week of August 12, 2024 (Note this date is subject to change)
FY2025 Grant Guidelines and Criteria
- FY2025 RMC MAERDAF – Grant Guidelines and Criteria
- FY2025 RMC RMPIF – Rural Infrastructure Grant Guidelines and Criteria
- FY2025 RMC RMPIF – Rural Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Workforce and Cooperative Development Guidelines and Criteria
- FY2025 RMC RMPIF – Rural Health Grant Guidelines and Criteria
- FY2025 RMC RMPIF – Rural Regional Council Grant Guidelines and Criteria
FY2025 Grant Instructions
FY2025 Grant Information Session Slides and Recording
Grant Forms for Phase II Applications Only (To be completed and uploaded in the grant portal)
- Goals and Measurable Objectives Chart (PDF-Fillable Form)
- Goals and Measurable Objectives Chart (Word Document)
- RMC Proposed Operating Budget and Line Item Form (PDF-Fillable Form)
- RMC Proposed Operating Budget and Line Item Form (Word Document)
- Vendor-Cost Documentation Form (PDF-Fillable Form)
- Vendor-Cost Documentation Form (Word Document)
If you are unable to access or set up your account or have any technical problems, please contact Megan D’Arcy by email at megan.darcy@maryland.gov or by phone: 410.841.2744 (O) or 667.458.9101 (C)
FY2024 Grant Information Session Information and Session Recordings
- RMC Fiscal Year 2024 Grant Information Session Recording
- FY2024 Grant Information Session Presentation Slides
- FY2024 MAERDAF – Grant Guidelines and Criteria
- FY2024 RMC RMPIF Rural Entrepreneurship – Agricultural – Workforce – Cooperative Development Guidelines and Criteria
- FY2024 RMPIF – Rural Regional Infrastructure Grant Guidelines and Criteria
- FY2024 RMPIF- Rural Health Care Guidelines
- FY2024 RMPIF – Rural Regional Councils Guidelines and Criteria
FY2023 Grant Information Session Information and Session Recordings
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