Grant Opportunities
Fiscal Year 2027 – Additional information will be available soon.
To stay informed about future grant opportunities and announcements, we encourage you to become a member of the Rural Maryland Council!
FY2027 Important Grant Dates
*Dates are subject to change.
- Grant Process Opened: Monday, April 20, 2026*
- Phase 1 – Call for Letter of Intent Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026*
- Grantees will be notified the week of June 18, 2026*, on the Phase 1 decision
- Phase 2 – Full Application Due: Friday, July 10, 2026*
- Awards announced the week of August 17, 2026*
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 [email protected] or by phone: 410.841.2744 (O) or 667.458.9101 (C)
Fiscal Year 2026 – Grant Award Press Release
FY2026 Grant Guidelines and Criteria
- RMC FY2026 MAERDAF
- RMC FY2026 RMPIF Regional Infrastructure
- RMC FY2026 RMPIF Rural Entrepreneurship – Agricultural Development, Workforce Development, and Cooperative Development
- RMC FY2026 RMPIF Rural Health
- RMC FY2026 RMPIF Regional Councils
FY2026 Grant Instructions
- FY2026 RMPIF General Guidelines and Instructions
- FY2026 MAERDAF General Guidelines and Instructions
- Phase II – Understanding and Communicating Return on Investment
FY2026 Grant Forms
- RMC Proposed Operating Budget and Line Item Form
- RMC Grant Goals and Measurable Objectives Chart
- RMC Vendor Cost Documentation Form
FY2026 Grant Information Session Slides and Recording
- FY2026 Grant Information Presentation Slide Deck
- Grant Information Session Zoom Teleconference – 4.22.2025
Fiscal Year 2025 – Grant Awards Press Release
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
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