What it is

The Rural Maryland Council (RMC) is a State of Maryland body. It brings together residents, community organizations, government officials and representatives of the private and nonprofit sectors to address the needs of rural Maryland. Each of the 18 counties the state defines as rural is represented. The council traces its start to 1994, when Governor William Donald Schaefer signed an executive order creating the Maryland Rural Development Council. Its stated goals are connected communities, strong rural economies, stewardship of natural resources, and wider outreach. More is on its About page.

What it offers founders

RMC's grants go to organizations, not directly to individual businesses. A founder in rural Maryland is most likely to benefit through a local nonprofit, economic development group or community college that wins RMC funding for entrepreneurship, agriculture or workforce projects. The Grant Opportunities page lists three programs for FY2027, with $6,047,464 in total funding cited:

  • Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF): aims to raise rural living standards to meet or exceed statewide benchmarks by 2030. It has separate tracks for Regional Infrastructure; Entrepreneurship, Agriculture and Workforce; Rural Health Care; and Rural Regional Councils. It is open to local and regional public and nonprofit organizations.
  • Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF): builds capacity at rural-serving nonprofits and at community colleges that train and assist agricultural and small businesses.
  • Maryland Rural Health Transformation Program: a new program for access to local, healthy food. It supports post-harvest infrastructure for small farms, food hubs, mobile markets and local food purchasing by institutions.

Who it is for

RMC is for rural-serving nonprofits, local and regional public bodies, community colleges, and the farmers, small businesses and residents they serve. Founders in agriculture, food systems, rural health or rural tech can use RMC's grantee lists to find local partners. They can also use its publications and the Rural Maryland Outlook data dashboard to research rural markets.

How to engage or apply

Grants run on a yearly two-phase cycle. For FY2027, letters of intent were due May 15, 2026, and full applications were due July 10, 2026. Awards were announced the week of August 17, 2026. Applications go through RMC's online grant portal, with guidelines, forms and recorded information sessions posted on the grant page. You can also attend council meetings and events or join the RMC membership list through the website. Contact RMC at 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, or 410-841-5772. Watch the events calendar for the next cycle.

Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem

Much of the DMV's startup support is concentrated in urban and suburban areas. RMC is a main state channel for rural economic development money, which pays for the infrastructure, training and local organizations that rural entrepreneurs rely on.