ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) supports Rural Maryland Council’s activities including the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF), and the State’s five Regional Councils. RMPIF is designed to facilitate significant targeted investments in important economic and community development programs and promote regional and intergovernmental cooperation. MAERDAF provides capacity building grants to rural serving nonprofit organizations and community colleges that promote statewide and regional planning, health care, economic and community development, and agricultural and forestry education. 

Total Requested: 179 Applications = $14,679,005             

Total Awarded: 73 Grants = $6,010,510

Due to COVID-19 and with guidance from the Department of Budget and Management, the Rural
Maryland Council will allocate grant funds in two disbursements in FY21. The first disbursement (Disbursement #1), containing 93% of the grant award, will be released in October/November 2020 and the second disbursement (Disbursement #2), containing the remaining 7% of the award, will be released in April 2021. Note that Disbursement #2 of the grant awards are subject to funding availability.

Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund: 34 Grants = $4,808,170

Rural Maryland Council: 1 Grant = Disbursement #1: $455,248/Disbursement #2: $32,457

Founded in 1994, the Rural Maryland Council (RMC) serves as the state’s federally designated rural development council and functions as a voice for Rural Maryland-advocating, educating, and helping rural communities and businesses across the state to flourish and to gain equity to its suburban and urban counterparts. The Council administers the RMPIF and MAERDAF grant programs. Additionally, the Council conducts research activities to understand rural challenges and outreach to engage rural residents in developing solutions to these challenges and convenes groups to identify solutions through consensus and coalition building. 

RMC operates under the direction of a 40-member Executive Board in a nonpartisan and nondiscriminatory manner. The Council’s vision is a future where all of Rural Maryland is prosperous with thriving resources, vibrant economies, and healthy, connected communities. The organizational goals are to: 

• Encourage healthy, connected communities throughout Rural Maryland through convening stakeholders, education, public relations, and advocacy; 

• Support the development and growth of vibrant economies in Rural Maryland; 

• Foster stewardship of Maryland’s natural resources; and,

• Maximize outreach, resources, and mission through financial and organizational development. 

Regional Councils:  5 Grants = Disbursement #1: $1,820,993/Disbursement #2: $129,827

One-third of RMPIF support the State’s five regional councils: Tri-County Council of Western Maryland, Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, Upper Shore Regional Council, Mid-Shore Regional Council, and the Tri-County Council of the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. Regional Council activities funded through this Fund, include: 

• Equity lending

• Transportation software and systems

• Regional agricultural development and education 

• Economic and small business development activities

• Rural economic research

The RMPIF grant program has three focus area-Health Care, Entrepreneurship, and Infrastructure. In FY2021, this program received 65 applications totaling $8,172,358.00 in requests. Of these requests, 28 grants totaling $2,727,442.67 were awarded. 

RMPIF Health Care: 15 Grants = $971,998

Awardee – Disbursement #1 – Disbursement #2* – Total Award:

  • Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission  $34,583  $2,466  $37,049
  • Asian American Center of Frederick  $46,673  $3,328  $50,000
  • Brook Lane Health Services  $140,018  $9,983  $150,000
  • Calvert Health Foundation  $37,388  $2,662  $40,000
  • Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation  $37,730  $2,690  $40,420
  • Delmarva Community Services  $99,879  $7,121  $107,000
  • Family & Children’s Services of Central Maryland  $140,018  $9,983  $150,000
  • For All Seasons, Inc.  $74,676  $5,324  $80,000
  • Ivy & Pearls of Southern Maryland Community Charities, Inc.  $8,966  $639  $9,605
  • Maintaining Active Citizens, Inc  $58,341  $4,159  $62,500
  • Sagepoint Senior Services Foundation  $44,899  $3,201  $48,100
  • University of Maryland Eastern Shore Foundation  $93,345  $6,655  $100,00
  • Western Maryland Area Health Education Center  $23,336  $1,664  $25,000
  • Worcester County Health Department  $23,336  $1,664  $25,000
  • YMCA of Chesapeake, Inc.  $44,174  $3,149  $47,324

*Subject to funding availability

RMPIF Entrepreneurship:  7 Grants = $892,134

Awardee – Disbursement #1 – Disbursement #2* – Total Award:

  • Chesapeake Culinary Center  $5,128  $366  $5,494
  • Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center  $23,336  $1,664  $25,000
  • Eastern Shore Innovation Center  $126,016  $8,984  $135,000
  • Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc.  $105,013  $7,487  $112,500
  • Maryland Small Business Development Center, Northern Region at Harford Community College  $210,026  $14,974  $225,000
  • The College of Southern Maryland  $255,765  $18,235  $274,000
  • Upper Shore Regional Council  $107,477  $7,663  $115,140

*Subject to funding availability

RMPIF Infrastructure: 6 Grants = $848,311

Awardee – Disbursement #1 – Disbursement #2* – Total Award:

  • City of Crisfield  $59,974  $4,276  $64,250
     
  • Pocomoke City  $140,018  $9,983  $150,000
     
  • Talbot County Department of Public Works  $397,650  $28,350  $426,000
     
  • Smith Island United  $93,345  $6,655  $100,000
     
  • Town of Hancock  $58,771  $4,190  $62,961
     
  • Town of Hurlock  $42,099  $3,001  $45,100

*Subject to funding availability

Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund: 39 Grants = $844,543

MAERDAF Agricultural and Forestry Education: 12 Grants = $210,340

Awardee – Disbursement #1 – Disbursement #2* – Total Award:

  • Chesapeake College Foundation  $10,268  $732  $11,000

 

  • Frederick CTC FFA Alumni, Inc.  $3,967  $283  $4,250

 

  • LEAD Maryland Foundation  $25,670  $1,830  $27,500

 

  • Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation  $18,408  $1,312  $19,720

 

  • Maryland Forests Association, Inc.  $30,337  $2,163  $32,500

 

  • Maryland Horse Foundation  $14,002  $998  $15,000

 

  • MPT Foundation, Inc.  $23,336  $1,664  $25,000

 

  • Philips Wharf Environmental Center  $4,667  $333  $5,000

 

  • Sassafras Environmental Education Center  $7,934  $566  $8,500

 

  • Steam Onward Inc.  $10,968  $782  $11,750

 

  • Western Maryland RC&D  $36,358  $2,592  $38,950

 

  • Western Maryland RC&D  $10,427  $743  $11,170

*Subject to funding availability

MAERDAF Community and Economic Development: 21 Grants = $530,151

Awardee – Disbursement #1 – Disbursement #2* – Total Award:

  • Allegany College of Maryland  $19,369  $1,381  $20,750

 

  • Community Foundation of Howard County  $18,669  $1,331  $20,000

 

  • Community Mediation Maryland  $46,673  $3,328  $50,000

 

  • Community Support Systems, Inc.  $7,934  $566  $8,500

 

  • Crisfield Arts & Entertainment District Project  $7,934  $566  $8,500

 

  • Garrett County Arts Council, Inc. $18,299  $1,305  $19,604

 

  • Habitat for Humanity Choptank, Inc.  $12,415  $885  $13,300

 

  • Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County, Inc  $23,336  $1,664  $25,000

 

  • Habitat for Humanity, Susquehanna  $23,336  $1,664  $25,000

 

  • Historic St. Mary’s City Foundation  $19,789  $1,411  $21,200

 

  • Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne’s  $12,135  $865  $13,000

 

  • Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Area, Inc.  $32,671  $2,329  $35,000

 

  • Lower Shore Land Trust  $10,639  $758  $11,397

 

  • Maryland Food Bank, Eastern Shore  $9,335  $666  $10,000

 

  • Maryland Rural Development Corporation  $37,338  $2,662  $40,000
  • Ocean City Development Corporation  $29,777  $2,123  $31,900

 

  • Preservation Maryland  $20,536  $1,464  $22,000

 

  • Shore Up, Inc  $23,336  $1,664  $25,000

 

  • Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland  $28,004  $1,997  $30,000

 

  • Vehicles for Change, Inc.  $46,673  $3,328  $50,000

 

  • Western Maryland RC&D  $46,673  $3,328  $50,000

*Subject to funding availability

MAERDAF Healthcare:  6 Grants = $119,052

Awardee – Disbursement #1 – Disbursement #2* – Total Award:

  • Bay Community Support Services, Inc.  $23,995  $1,711  $25,706

 

  • Channel Marker, Inc  $18,571  $1,324  $19,895

 

  • For All Seasons, Inc.  $46,673  $3,328  $50,000

 

  • Jesse Klump Memorial Fund, Inc.  $5,787  $413  $6,200

 

  • National Ski Patrol-Eastern Division- Wisp Ski Patrol $8,868  $632  $9,501

 

  • Southern Maryland Minority Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Inc.  $7,234  $516  $7,750

*Subject to funding availability

For More Information, visit the RMC website: www.rural.maryland.gov