The Rural Maryland Council is seeking applications for its Rural Entrepreneurship – Agricultural Development, Workforce Development, and Cooperative Development Grant.
Donor Name: Rural Maryland Council
State: Maryland
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/16/2025
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
The Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund will promote entrepreneurship and assist efforts that provide training and technical assistance to the entrepreneurs who can help build prosperous and sustainable rural communities by creating jobs, raising incomes, creating wealth, and improving the quality of life.
Categories
- Rural Entrepreneurship Development: Between one-third and two-thirds of any economy’s growth is attributable to entrepreneurial activity. Finding ways to transform the resourcefulness, innovation, and self-reliance that is so often found in rural communities into growing, innovative businesses is a challenge many rural economic development professionals are increasingly embracing as an effective and important strategy for growing the tax base, expanding economic opportunities, and creating sustainable local economies
- Rural Agricultural Development: Agriculture remains Maryland’s largest commercial economic sector and is incredibly important to rural areas. Agriculture contributes approximately $16.5 billion to the state economy supports 73,009 jobs and adds nearly $610 million in combined state and local tax revenue. The total economic impact of resource-based industries in 2022 equaled $20.1 billion, supported over 88,610 jobs, and generated over $755 million in state and local tax revenue. RMC supports programs and policies that will sustain and enhance agricultural production and agritourism
- Rural Workforce Development: The Council supports apprenticeships and community colleges so young adults can stay in their rural areas and become part of the rural workforce. Efforts to improve career and technology education through the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, including specifically agriculture education. Examples include but may not be limited to youth apprenticeship programs, STEM education, and summer enrichment programs. Note – The FY2026 grant period will run from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The Council understands that programs that take place during the summer months may fall outside this designated time frame and special consideration will be made to accommodate these programs
- Rural Cooperative Development: The Council supports programs that improve the economic conditions of rural areas by helping individuals and businesses start, expand, or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually owned businesses.
Funding Information
For Fiscal Year 2026, the State has budgeted $981,250.
Grant Period
August 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
Eligible Expenses
- Salaries and Wages are allowable expenses. It is strongly encouraged to include a statement on sustainability for future years
- Administrative costs including construction, leasing, and renovation of buildings are eligible expenses. Acquisition of land is not. The purchase or rental of vehicles are eligible expenses. The purchase of equipment is an eligible expense. These administrative expenses should not exceed more than 25% of the grant request. Quotes for purchases and construction work should be included
- Meals are allowable if the costs are reasonable and a justification is provided that such activity maintains the continuity of the meeting and to do otherwise will impose arduous conditions on the meeting participants
- Indirect administrative costs are capped at 15%.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be a local government, institute of higher education, regional council, or be a 501(c)(3) IRS tax designation or similar and serve a regional or statewide rural constituency. Community Colleges, Career Technology Centers, Regional Councils, and Libraries are eligible applicants. The applicant does not have to be located in a rural area or in the area it serves
- Rural Counties: State-determined rural counties are the following: Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester
- The State Recognized Regional Councils are eligible entities to apply for RMPIF competitive funds. These projects are encouraged to have co-applicants and multiple sources of funds
- All applicants must include an official IRS-issued W-9 form with their application, allowing RMC to verify the organization’s name, address, and tax identification number. The address on the W-9 must match the organization’s grant award address. If they do not match, payment processing may be delayed.
For more information, visit RMC.
