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Milestones

2022

  • Rural Maryland Day was celebrated virtually this year on February 10, 2022.
  • Maryland Day was celebrated on March 25, 2022, the RMC held a Grab and Go Lunch for the Legislators at
    Lawyers mall in downtown Annapolis.
  • The RMC received $9 million in funding for FY2023. This funding will be highly beneficial to those who
    live, work, and visit the many great rural areas of our state. This funding will mostly go towards the RMPIF
    and MAERDAF grant programs.
  • The RMC reconvened the rural health committee for the first time since 2016.
  • The Foundation convened its Transfer of Wealth workgroup will continue its efforts to engage with the Maryland Philanthropy Network.



2021

  • Rural Maryland Day was celebrated virtually on February 11, 2021. The event provided an opportunity for over 100 rural advocates to meet one-on-one with key legislators to discuss both the strengths and challenges experienced living in rural Maryland.
  • In recognition of Maryland farmers, watermen, and rural communities, the Rural Maryland Council hosted a Grab & Go lunch for Legislators on Maryland Day, Thursday, March 25, 2021, at Lawyer’s Mall in Annapolis sponsored by the Maryland Broadband Cooperative, the Rural Maryland Foundation, and the Southern
    Maryland Agriculture Development Commission.
  • The Rural Summit “Redefining Resilience and Recovery” was held on December 1-2, 2021 at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland. The summit consisted of 16 breakout sessions, 3 plenary sessions, and several guest speakers that included Governor Larry Hogan, USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, and the Summit’s keynote speaker Whitney Kimball Coe.
  • The council partnered in 2021 with the Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI), located out of Towson University. RESI conducted an economic impact analysis of the RMC’S grant programs across the state of Maryland.



2020

  • Council hosts Rural Maryland Day on February 4, 2020.
  • Council reaches 25th year of operations.
  • New Rural Outlook demographic dashboard launched.
  • The Council receives and reviews 179 grant applications totaling $14,679,005 in funding requests.
  • In FY2021, the council under the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund distributes $4,808,170 t0 34 entities.
  • The Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF), which the RMC administers with the help of an interagency board, is funded again in the State Budget. MAERDAF receives a record number of grant proposals, of which 39 are funded for a total of $844,543.
  • Council adopts updated Strategic Plan.



2019

  • Council hosts Rural Maryland Day on February 14, 2019.
  • For Fiscal Year 2019, the Council receives 163 grant applications requesting $10,520,515 in funding requests: the council awards 79 grants totaling $5,980,343.
  • The Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation and Rural Development Assistance Fund awards 42 grants for a total of $1,093,930 in disbursements.
  • Council submits a Managing For Results Report that highlights the RMPIF investments having enhanced life in rural MD through:
    • 657 new full time jobs; 8,755 individuals served; 5,406 hours of instruction; $1,147,389 in capital investment; Services to 124,099 rural Marylanders; Leveraged $5,891,531 in nonstate funds.
  • Foundation films follow up video “We are Rural Maryland”.
  • RMC receives USDA state rural development council recognition.
  • Council successfully hosts the biennial Rural Summit on December 12, 2019 at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Annapolis.



2018

  • In Fiscal Year 2018, the council receives 119 grant applications.
  • Council hosts Rural Maryland Day on February 8, 2018.
  • 2018 Maryland Rural Health Plan released highlighting six areas of need and outlining several policy, system-based and individual recommendations.
  • Council hosts two regional Community Reinvestment Act and Broadband roundtables in Hughesville and Allegany College in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Baltimore Branch.
  • Council hosts Small Business Lending Forum in Hagerstown in partnership with USDA Rural Development.
  • Council hosts national Partners for Rural America annual meeting in Annapolis.



2017

  • Council adopts Strategic Plan with updated vision and goals.
  • Council hosts Rural Maryland Day on February 9, 2017.
  • Council cohosts a Regional Forum in Rural Broadband in partnership with USDA Rural Development on May 24, 2017 in Annapolis.
  • RMC Executive Director named chair of state-wide Task Force on Rural Broadband, Internet, Wireless and Cellular service.
  • Council hosts Rural Summit “Bridging the Divide: Strengthening Rural and Urban Communities” on December 1, 2017.



2016

  • Council hosts Rural Maryland Day on February 11, 2016.
  • We were successful in our efforts to attain funding for the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) for the first time! On March 29, 2016, the Maryland Legislature passed the Fiscal Year 2017 State Operating Budget, which included funds, for the first time since its creation in 2006, to support RMPIF, a key step forward in addressing disparities in the State’s rural areas.
  • Supported the successful passage of Program Open Space-Transfer Tax Repayment – Use of Funds (HB462). for the first time since its inception, the program will realize full funding and in Fiscal Year 2018 will be allocated $5 million for implementation of the Next Generation Farmland Acquisition Program.
  • Hosted RMC Executive Board retreat in April 2016 to discuss strategic planning.
  • During FY 2016, the MAERDAF Grants Review Board received 57 grant applications requesting a total of $866,450.75 in funding. The Board selected 16 rural-serving nonprofit organizations to receive $166, 968.00 in available funding.
  • Rural Maryland Foundation hosts Farmland screenings in Easton, Denton, Cockeysville, Mt. Airy and Thurmont.
  • RMC Health Care Committee releases report encouraging all Primary physicians include an evaluation for depression in their private office visits; review and revise roles of school nurses and counselors to assist in detecting signs of depression for possible medical attention and develop certifications programs in mental health to further enhance qualifications and offset the recognized physician shortage in addressing, treating or referring adolescents suffering from depression.



2015

  • Council hosts Rural Maryland Day on February 19, 2015.
  • During Fiscal Year 2015, a total of 54 rural-serving organizations submitted applications requesting more than $1,000,000 in grants. This year, however, only $170,000 was available; this was distributed to 17 rural serving nonprofits.
  • The Rural Maryland Council (RMC) and the Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC) partnered together on a pilot youth engagement project that was envisioned to provide the tools and the framework necessary for our communities to engage young people and keep them rooted in our rural areas.
  • Council hosted Rural Summit on December 3, 2015 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Annapolis.



2014

  • Council conducts online surveys of 6-12th grade students in Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties.
  • Rural Maryland Foundation films “Rural Aspirations” video.
  • RMC presents a new logo, URL and website, www.rural.maryland.gov
  • Passage of SB137/HB1024 Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund
  • Revisions and Extension of Termination Date during the 2014 General Assembly Session. This legislation extends the fund’s authorization from 2020 to 2030, increases the capacity of the five regional councils and expands programming to include health care.



2013

  • For Fiscal Year 2013, the RMC received a line item appropriation of $167,000 through the State’s Operating Budget. The council reported $170,970 in carried over funding received in Fiscal Year 2012 through the Invest Maryland Initiative. Additional operating funding of approximately $25,000 was received in horse racing revenues. Total Fiscal Year appropriations were $383,182.14 with expenses totaling $246,825.48.
  • The State Office of Rural Health (SORH), Rural Maryland Council (RMC), and Maryland Rural Health Association (MRHA) jointly hosted a webinar on May 21, 2013, on an upcoming Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rural Health Care Connect Fund. A presentation was made by Mark Walker of Wireline Competition Bureau of the FCC.
  • Cohosted with the Maryland Rural Health Association and the State Office of Rural Health, the Rural Action Assembly is held on October 17 and 18, 2013 at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Harford County.




About Us

 

Contact Information

Office Address
Rural Maryland Council
50 Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis, Maryland 21401

phone icon Phone: 410-841-5772
phone icon Fax: 410-841-5987

Email: rmc.mda@maryland.gov

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