Grant Opportunities

Fiscal Year 2026 Grant Process Is Now Closed

Thank you for your interest in the Rural Maryland Council’s Fiscal Year 2026 grant cycle. Phase I – Letter of Intent applications were due by Friday, May 16, 2025, and the grant process is now officially closed. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all who applied –your dedication to improving Maryland’s rural communities is deeply appreciated.

We also express our sincere gratitude to Governor Wes Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson, Speaker Adrienne Jones, and the members of the Maryland General Assembly for prioritizing $6,000,000 in funding for rural Maryland. This vital investment will significantly support the economic growth and long-term sustainability of our rural communities.

To stay informed about future grant opportunities and announcements, we encourage you to become a member of the Rural Maryland Council!

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*

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

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 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

• MAERDAF Grant Instructions
• RMPIF Grant Instructions

FY2025 Grant Information Session Slides and Recording

• Grant Information Slide Deck – 4.17.2024
• Grant Information Session Zoom Teleconference – 4.17.24

FY2023 Grant Information Session Information and Session Recordings