# Maryland RHTP Pillar 3 – Empower Rural Marylanders to Eat for Health

This grant opportunity supports the creation and expansion of food system aggregation and hubs and promotes local foods purchasing strategies to advance dietary health for rural Marylanders. Funding is provided under the Maryland RHTP (Pillar 3), emphasizing regional coordination, infrastructure, and healthy food distribution in rural Maryland communities.

## Key facts

- Status: Closed
- Type: GRANT
- Issued by: Rural Maryland Council (Maryland)
- Posted: 2026-04-21
- Letter of intent due: 2026-05-15
- Application due: 2026-05-15
- Eligible applicants: Local Health Department, Rural Health Collaborative, Non-profit, Primary Care Provider, Rural Health Organization, Community College
- How to apply: Online application via the Rural Maryland Council/Maryland Department of Health official portal. Registration for the pre-application conference is required.
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://health.maryland.gov/pophealth/Pages/RHTP-Procurement.aspx

## Eligibility

Eligible applicants include rural-serving nonprofit organizations involved in statewide/regional planning; agricultural or forestry education; economic/community development; and community colleges that provide training or technical assistance supporting agricultural and small businesses. Local Health Departments, Rural Health Collaboratives, primary care providers, and other rural health organizations engaged in food system or access projects may also be eligible.

## Requirements

Applicants must submit an application through the Maryland Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) application portal (see URL in Application Prep metadata). Applicants are required to register and attend a pre-application conference on May 11, 2026. All applications must comply with the grant guidelines posted by the Rural Maryland Council and Maryland Department of Health. The process consists of an initial Letter of Intent submission due May 15, 2026. Full application details and required attachments will be provided to selected LOI applicants.

## Application package and source documents

- [MD - 2026 - Pages - Maryland Rural Health Program Funding Opportunities](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/0c9b94d1-8ad0-4474-9ac8-fe763e2eede8/file) (primary) — official: https://health.maryland.gov/pophealth/Pages/RHTP-Procurement.aspx
- [MD - 2027 - Rural Maryland Council Announces Fiscal Year 2027 RHTP Grant Recipients (Award announcement - Rural Maryland Council FY2027 RHTP grant recipients (20 awards, $4,684,777))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/90790088-085b-448c-a7dc-74bf9e09b4e0/file) — official: https://rural.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/11/Rural-Maryland-Council-Announces-Fiscal-Year-2027-Rural-Health-Transformation-Program-Grant-Recipients-1.pdf

More Maryland RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/md (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/md.md)

---
Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/maryland-rhtp-pillar-3-empower-rural-marylanders-to-eat-for-health--f88eb83baa — data as of 2026-06-21.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.