Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) Grants

The Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) is a grant program administered by the Rural Maryland Council (RMC), a state agency dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Maryland’s rural communities. RMC works collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders to support rural economic and community development, and MAERDAF represents one of its most impactful tools for strengthening nonprofit and educational institutions that serve rural areas. Alongside MAERDAF, the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) operates as a companion program, focused on investing in broad-scale economic growth and infrastructure in rural regions of the state. MAERDAF’s primary objective is to enhance the operational capacity of rural-serving nonprofit organizations and community colleges. These entities must be engaged in statewide or regional planning, economic and community development, or education focused on agriculture and forestry. By supporting these organizations, the program aims to help them build public-private partnerships, attract non-state funding, and effectively address the complex challenges facing rural Maryland communities. Community colleges are particularly targeted for their ability to provide technical assistance and training that bolster agricultural and small business development. RMPIF, meanwhile, aims to raise rural living standards across Maryland to meet or surpass statewide averages by 2030, while maintaining the unique cultural and heritage values of these communities. Funds awarded through RMPIF are intended to spur targeted investments in areas such as regional infrastructure, workforce and cooperative development, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and health. Eligible applicants for RMPIF include local and regional public entities and nonprofit organizations operating in rural Maryland. For Fiscal Year 2027, the grant process will unfold in two phases. The application portal opens on April 20, 2026. Interested applicants must first submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by May 15, 2026. Applicants selected to proceed will be notified during the week of June 18, 2026, and invited to submit a full application by July 10, 2026. Final awards will be announced during the week of August 17, 2026. This two-step process is designed to streamline the application workload and ensure only eligible and well-prepared applicants proceed to the full proposal stage. Although detailed award amounts, match requirements, or funding tiers are not provided in the announcement, the RMC has historically issued grants across a variety of budget sizes. Eligible expenditures typically include operational support, capacity building, and programming aligned with the goals of each fund. Full details on allowable costs and reporting expectations are generally published in the accompanying guidelines and instructions, which were noted as forthcoming for FY2027. For further information, applicants are encouraged to contact Megan D’Arcy, the designated grant manager, via email at [email protected] or by phone at 410.841.2744 (office) or 667.458.9101 (cell). Additionally, becoming a member of the Rural Maryland Council is recommended to stay informed about new developments, updates, and future funding opportunities related to MAERDAF and RMPIF.