Skip to Main Content

RMC Announces $555,917 Available Funds For Grant Program

Annapolis, Maryland – On May 9, 2016 the Rural Maryland Council (RMC) announced the opening of the Fiscal Year 2017 Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) for applications. The MAERDAF program has helped many rural-serving organizations establish or maintain programs and projects that have had a significant impact on Rural Maryland. The fund provides grants to rural-serving nonprofit organizations that promote statewide and regional planning, economic and community development, and agricultural and forestry education. Also eligible are rural community colleges that support small and agricultural businesses through enhanced training and technical assistance. MAERDAF’s goal is to increase the overall capacity of rural-serving nonprofit organizations and community colleges to help them establish new public/private partnerships for leveraging non-state sources of funding.

Between Fiscal Year 2001 and Fiscal Year 2016, the MAERDAF program awarded $3.25 million in grants to over 75 organizations.  The Rural Maryland Council administers MAERDAF in partnership with several state of Maryland Departments including the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Department of Commerce. This will be the largest grant year on record for the fund, with more than triple the resources available just last year. Rural Maryland Council Chair, Doris Mason, stated, “The Council is very excited about the impact we will be able to have this year, as we expect to fund a larger number of projects, thus more positively effecting the economic prosperity and overall quality of life in the rural areas of our state.”

For fiscal year 2017, the RMC is particularly interested in proposals that address: Agriculture, Energy, Rural Broadband, Healthcare, Youth Engagement and Workforce/Economic Development. Regardless, the Grant Review Board will give full consideration to any application that is submitted. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, July 15, 2016. Instructions and applications are available on the RMC’s website at www.rural.maryland.gov/maerdaf/.

The RMC operates under the direction of a 40-member executive board in a nonpartisan and nondiscriminatory manner. It serves as the state’s federally designated rural development council and functions as a voice for rural Maryland, advocating for and helping rural communities and businesses across the state to flourish. The RMC envisions a future where all areas of Maryland are prosperous with thriving resources, vibrant economies, and healthy, connected communities.

###

doit-ewspw-W01
Close window
Close Disclaimer

Google Translate Disclaimer

The Maryland Department of Information Technology (“DoIT”) offers translations of the content through Google Translate. Because Google Translate is an external website, DoIT does not control the quality or accuracy of translated content. All DoIT content is filtered through Google Translate which may result in unexpected and unpredictable degradation of portions of text, images and the general appearance on translated pages. Google Translate may maintain unique privacy and use policies. These policies are not controlled by DoIT and are not associated with DoIT’s privacy and use policies. After selecting a translation option, users will be notified that they are leaving DoIT’s website. Users should consult the original English content on DoIT’s website if there are any questions about the translated content.

DoIT uses Google Translate to provide language translations of its content. Google Translate is a free, automated service that relies on data and technology ​​​to provide its translations. The Google Translate feature is provided for informational purposes only. Translations cannot be guaranteed as exact or without the inclusion of incorrect or inappropriate language. Google Translate is a third-party service and site users will be leaving DoIT to utilize translated content. As such, DoIT does not guarantee and does not accept responsibility for, the accuracy, reliability, or performance of this service nor the limitations provided by this service, such as the inability to translate specific files like PDFs and graphics (e.g. .jpgs, .gifs, etc.).

DoIT provides Google Translate as an online tool for its users, but DoIT does not directly endorse the website or imply that it is the only solution available to users. All site visitors may choose to use alternate tools for their translation needs. Any individuals or parties that use DoIT content in translated form, whether by Google Translate or by any other translation services, do so at their own risk. DoIT is not liable for any loss or damages arising out of, or issues related to, the use of or reliance on translated content. DoIT assumes no liability for any site visitor’s activities in connection with use of the Google Translate functionality or content.

The Google Translate service is a means by which DoIT offers translations of content and is meant solely for the convenience of non-English speaking users of the website. The translated content is provided directly and dynamically by Google; DoIT has no direct control over the translated content as it appears using this tool. Therefore, in all contexts, the English content, as directly provided by DoIT is to be held authoritative.