NourishMD Grant Program

Application

Application status: Closed
Application opened: January 20, 2026
Application closed: February 20, 2026

The NourishMD Grant Program is a targeted investment designed to expand access to healthy and fresh foods in Maryland communities experiencing food insecurity by providing direct grants to eligible retailers.

Available funding

Grant Size: $25,000 – $150,000
Total Funding Available: Up to $3.65 million ($2 million in state funds and $1.65 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funds)

Eligible applicants

For-profit or nonprofit food retailers that:

Serve a community with a Maryland Community Business Compass (MCBC) Fresh Food Gap Score of 60% or higher
- Watch: How to Find Your Community's Fresh Food Gap Score
Operate at least 5 days per week, year round (farmer's markets/on-farm markets exempt from 5-day requirement but must operate year round)
Currently or plan to offer fresh, frozen, or minimally processed healthy foods
Dedicate at least 20% of inventory or food-sales space to healthy food items

Tip: Visit the Maryland Community Business Compass (MCBC) to learn more, use data insights to identify new opportunities, and connect with expert resources to help your business thrive.

Eligible retailers include, but are not limited to::

Grocery stores
Corner stores
Co-ops
Farm stands
Farmers' markets
Delivery retailers
Small food-focused stores

To qualify for Rural Health Transformation Program funds, the retailer must be located in a designated rural county - PDF

Eligible use of funds

Use of funds depends on the source of funding, though dually-sourced awards are available.

$2 million in State funds may be used to directly support improved healthy food access, including:

Equipment purchases (refrigeration, shelving, etc.)
Facility acquisition, construction, or expansion
Initial inventory costs
Working capital tied to expansion/construction
Infrastructure and technology for SNAP/EBT

$1.65 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funds can be used to directly support improved healthy food access, including:

Equipment purchases (refrigeration, shelving, etc.)
Working capital
Infrastructure and technology for SNAP/EBT

Program timeline

2026 Pilot Round application window has closed. Information for the 2027 round is expected to be published in late 2026.

Read the NourishMD Program Guide - PDF - 231.55 KB for full details on requirements and documentation.

Program fees

No application fee
$250 processing fee (deducted from the award amount)

Other funding sources

Partnership with Maryland Market Money (MMM) Program provides a dollar-for-dollar match for purchases made using federal nutrition benefits at participating Maryland farmers markets, farm stands, and other on-farm retailers while providing technical assistance, training, marketing, and additional services to stakeholders. Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply to both programs and will receive priority for awards.
- Maryland Department of Agriculture and NourishMD have partnered to co-award funds to farmers markets and on-farm stands that offer fresh food in areas with low access.
Maryland Department of Health's Healthy Corner Store Program provides grants to establish relationships between local health departments and small scale retail stores in Maryland recognized rural districts, recognize those establishments that are stocking healthy products, and recommend areas for improvement for retailers to meet the criteria of a Healthy Maryland Corner Store.
The Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program offered by DHCD can further provide loans of up to $5 million.

For more information

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