The Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) supports strategic investments in rural entrepreneurship, agricultural development, workforce enhancement, and cooperative business models across Maryland’s rural counties. Administered by the Rural Maryland Council (RMC) under the Maryland Department of Agriculture, this grant initiative is designed to increase economic opportunity and quality of life in regions historically underserved or underrepresented in state development priorities. The fund targets multi-county and intergovernmental projects that contribute to long-term sustainability, economic resilience, and equitable access to employment, services, and infrastructure for rural residents.
RMPIF’s entrepreneurship development focus aims to nurture rural-based innovation by supporting nonprofit and educational institutions that provide technical assistance, business training, and infrastructure for small business creation and growth. Recognizing the limitations of traditional economic development models in rural areas, the fund emphasizes the need to empower residents and local organizations to generate homegrown solutions that create jobs, raise incomes, and build wealth within their own communities. Awards support projects that assist existing rural industries like agriculture and tourism, as well as those that advance technology and new economic models, including cooperatives.
In the agricultural development track, the fund acknowledges the sector’s significant contribution to Maryland’s economy—over $16 billion in 2022—and supports projects that sustain and enhance agritourism, production capacity, and related resource-based industries. Workforce development investments target youth and adult education pathways through apprenticeships, STEM programming, and collaboration with community colleges and career technology education institutions. Cooperative development funding assists mutually owned businesses that improve economic conditions for workers, producers, consumers, and service providers in rural communities.
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, local governments, community colleges, higher education institutions, regional councils, career technical centers, and libraries. Applicants do not need to be physically located in the rural area they serve but must propose projects that have clear regional or intergovernmental reach and benefit rural Maryland counties. Applicants must submit a valid IRS-issued W-9 form and be in good standing with the State of Maryland. A minimum 25% cash match from non-state sources is required for all projects.
The FY2026 application process consisted of a two-phase submission: a Letter of Intent (LOI) due by May 16, 2025, and a full application due July 11, 2025, for those invited to proceed. All applications were submitted through the RMC’s online grant portal. Awards are scheduled for announcement during the week of August 18, 2025. The performance period runs from August 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Interim and final reports are required, and unused funds must be returned by July 15, 2026. Projects may not undergo major changes without approval. Grant award decisions are made by the RMPIF Grant Review Board and are final.
The RMPIF grant program is recurring, with annual budget allocations from the state. Future cycles are anticipated, and applicants should monitor the grant portal in early 2026 for updates. For questions or administrative support, applicants may contact Charlotte Davis, Executive Director of the Rural Maryland Council, at charlotte.davis@maryland.gov or (410) 841-5772.
Re-clean once more details are announced in early 2027
