Maryland Launches NourishMD Program for Fourth Year, Aiming to Combat Food Deserts with $3.67 Million in Grants

Maryland residents seeking improved access to fresh, nutritious food will have another opportunity as the state announces the opening of the Fiscal Year 2027 application round for the NourishMD Grant Program. According to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the program, which aims to address food insecurity by supporting retail outlets in underserved areas, will begin accepting applications on September 22, 2026. This initiative will disburse approximately $3.67 million in grants to help establish, stabilize, and expand grocery stores and other food retailers in regions where residents face significant barriers to obtaining healthy food options.

The NourishMD program offers grants ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 to eligible food retailers. These funds are designated for capital expenditures, which can include improvements to infrastructure, technology upgrades, facility renovations, and the purchase of necessary equipment. To qualify for the program, businesses must be situated in areas identified by the Maryland Community Compass as having a Fresh Food Gap Score of 65% or higher. This score is a metric developed by the Governor’s Innovation Team to pinpoint communities with the most acute need for accessible, nutritious food. The program’s previous pilot round successfully awarded $3.64 million to retailers, contributing to enhanced fresh food availability in targeted communities across the state.

To streamline the application process and ensure that applicants receive tailored support, the Fiscal Year 2027 NourishMD Grant Program application will be conducted in two phases. Prospective applicants must first submit an initial eligibility application. This preliminary step is designed to confirm basic eligibility requirements and assess the level of community need in the applicant’s proposed service area. Businesses that successfully pass this initial review will then be invited to proceed to the comprehensive project application phase, where they will submit a detailed proposal for funding consideration. Awards will be determined through a competitive review process, with a particular emphasis placed on applications originating from areas designated as Sustainable Communities, Just Communities, or communities facing high levels of poverty, as indicated by eligibility for the ENOUGH Initiative. The deadline for submitting these initial eligibility applications is November 2, 2026.

The NourishMD Grant Program operates through a collaborative effort involving multiple state agencies and programs. A key partnership exists with the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Maryland Market Money Program (MMM). The MMM program is designed to increase the purchasing power of individuals using federal nutrition benefits, offering a dollar-for-dollar match for eligible purchases made at participating Maryland farmers markets, farm stands, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. Beyond financial matching, MMM also provides valuable technical assistance, training, and marketing support to stakeholders involved in local food systems.

Funding for the NourishMD grant awards is also bolstered by a significant investment from Maryland’s Rural Health Transformation Program, an initiative of the Maryland Department of Health. This program is channeling $1.67 million in federal funds to improve health outcomes in rural parts of the state. This dedicated funding aims to ensure that rural Maryland communities have equitable access to the NourishMD grants, thereby supporting the broader goals of the Moore-Miller Administration to enhance healthcare opportunities and affordability throughout Maryland’s rural regions. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, is a foundational supporter of the Rural Health Transformation Program, contributing substantial financial assistance toward these health-focused initiatives.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

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