Rural Maryland Council Announces Fiscal Year 2026 Grant Recipients

The Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) supports the operating activities of the Rural Maryland Council, including the administration of the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) and funding for the State’s five rural Regional Councils. The RMPIF grant program is designed to make strategic investments in key economic and community development initiatives while fostering regional and intergovernmental collaboration.

The MAERDAF grant program provides capacity-building support to rural-serving nonprofit organizations and community colleges. These grants strengthen efforts that advance statewide and regional planning, economic and community development, youth engagement and leadership development, energy, and agricultural and forestry education.

The Rural Maryland Council was allocated $6,000,000 in the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget. However, this represents a $3 million reduction to their competitive grant programs. As a result, grant decisions were particularly challenging this year due to the limited available funding and the highly competitive pool of applicants.

Click here to read the full FY2026 RMC Grant Award Press Release.