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Grant Opportunities

Fiscal Year 2026

The Rural Maryland Council offers two grant programs with an anticipated budget of $6 million for FY2026. 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.

FY2026 Important Grant Dates 

**Dates are subject to change. 

  • Grant Process Opened: Monday, April 21, 2025*
  • Phase 1 – Call for Letter of Intent Deadline: Friday, May 16, 2025*
    • Grantees will be notified the week of June 9, 2025*, on the Phase 1 decision
  • Phase 2 – Full Application Due: Friday, July 11, 2025*
    • Awards announced the week of August 18, 2025*

The Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF)

  • Who Can Apply: 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.
  • Purpose: 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)

  • Who Can Apply: Local and regional public and nonprofit organizations
  • Purpose: To 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

For additional information, please contact Megan D’Arcy by email at megan.darcy@maryland.gov or by phone: 410.841.2744 (O) or 667.458.9101 (C)

Fiscal Year 2025 – Grant Awards Press Release

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 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)

FY2024 Grant Information Session Information and Session Recordings

FY2023 Grant Information Session Information and Session Recordings

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