Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) Grants - Rural Health

The Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) is administered by the Rural Maryland Council (RMC), an official state entity dedicated to addressing the needs of Maryland’s rural communities. The RMC plays a strategic role in convening stakeholders, disseminating resources, and funding rural initiatives that contribute to the economic vitality and sustainability of Maryland’s rural areas. MAERDAF, alongside its sibling program, the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF), serves as a critical financial mechanism through which RMC channels resources to rural-serving organizations and institutions. The MAERDAF program aims to increase the capacity of nonprofit organizations and community colleges operating in rural Maryland by supporting projects that promote economic development, community planning, agricultural and forestry education, and public/private partnerships. By investing in these organizations, MAERDAF fosters systemic development, helping grantees build sustainable operations and programs. The program is designed to be catalytic, enabling recipients to leverage state dollars for additional public and private investment. Community colleges that offer technical assistance and training to agricultural or small business stakeholders are also eligible, reinforcing the program’s emphasis on workforce and economic development in rural areas. Similarly, the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) targets improvements in rural quality of life by funding high-impact projects that promote intergovernmental cooperation and long-term regional advancement. The program’s overarching goal is to raise the standard of living in rural communities to meet or surpass the state's average benchmarks by the year 2030, without compromising cultural and environmental assets that define rural life. RMPIF's funding priorities include infrastructure, entrepreneurship and cooperative development, workforce training, regional planning, and rural health initiatives. The application process for MAERDAF and RMPIF follows a two-phase structure. For Fiscal Year 2027, the process opened on April 20, 2026. Interested applicants are required to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by May 15, 2026. Phase 1 decisions will be communicated during the week of June 18, 2026. Selected applicants will then be invited to submit full proposals, due by July 10, 2026. Awards will be announced in the week of August 17, 2026. These deadlines are tentative and subject to change, as stated in the source material. Eligible applicants for MAERDAF include rural-serving nonprofit organizations and community colleges located in Maryland. These entities must demonstrate how their programs contribute to the advancement of economic, educational, or community development objectives in rural areas. For RMPIF, the eligibility is broader, encompassing local and regional public and nonprofit organizations. Both programs are geographically limited to rural areas within the state of Maryland, as defined by the RMC. All inquiries regarding the MAERDAF and RMPIF programs should be directed to Megan D’Arcy, who can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by phone at 410.841.2744 (office) or 667.458.9101 (cell). Applicants are encouraged to consult grant instructions and past guideline documents provided on the RMC website for a comprehensive understanding of program expectations, funding rules, allowable expenses, and reporting obligations.