Maryland Lawmakers Aim to Boost Rural Community Funding

New program would provide grants and capacity-building support for small towns

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Maryland legislators are working to create a program that would better equip rural communities with resources to obtain grants and get more support for community projects. The proposed legislation would establish the Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund, which would provide up to $50,000 in grants, and the Rural Readiness Program to offer help with grant writing and business planning.

Why it matters

Rural communities often lack the tax base and staffing to secure funding for critical infrastructure projects, putting them at a disadvantage compared to larger municipalities. This new program aims to level the playing field and help small towns access the resources they need to thrive.

The details

The Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund and Rural Readiness Program would be run by the Rural Maryland Council. Communities and nonprofits that complete the readiness program would receive priority for the capacity building grants. The bill calls for $100,000 to start the initiative, which has bipartisan support in the state legislature. One town that could benefit is Grantsville in Garrett County, which is trying to build a $5.5 million community center but lacks the resources to fully fund the project.

  • The House and Senate committees have held hearings on companion bills.
  • The Senate Finance Committee approved Senate Bill 300 on a 10-0 vote on March 2, 2026.
  • House Bill 461 received a hearing before the Economic Matters Committee on February 17, 2026, but has yet to receive a committee vote.

The players

Natalie Ziegler

A Democratic delegate representing Howard and Montgomery counties, and co-chair of the new Rural Caucus.

Charlotte Davis

The executive director of the Rural Maryland Council.

Jason Gallion

A Republican state senator representing Harford and Cecil counties, and a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 300.

Arthur Ellis

A Democratic state senator representing Charles County, who raised concerns about the bill's definition of rural communities.

Emily Newman-Edwards

The mayor of Grantsville, a town in Garrett County that is trying to build a $5.5 million community center.

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What they’re saying

“Rural communities 'have the same critical infrastructure needs as larger communities, but they don't have the tax base to help,'”

— Natalie Ziegler, Democratic delegate (marylandmatters.org)

“It's about building that skill and capacity in rural communities so that we can create vibrant places all across the state,”

— Charlotte Davis, Executive director of the Rural Maryland Council (marylandmatters.org)

“I think it has strong bipartisan support because it looks like it's a pretty good bill that will help our rural communities,”

— Jason Gallion, Republican state senator (marylandmatters.org)

“I just want to know that when we do things for rural communities, we know that even Charles County, which is the only majority Black rural community, by law gets those resources,”

— Arthur Ellis, Democratic state senator (marylandmatters.org)

“The reality is that places like us don't have access to these things regularly. We don't have other opportunities. There is no other community center.”

— Emily Newman-Edwards, Mayor of Grantsville (marylandmatters.org)

What’s next

The Senate Finance Committee approved Senate Bill 300 on a 10-0 vote on March 2, 2026, and sent it back to the full Senate for further consideration. The companion bill, House Bill 461, has yet to receive a committee vote after its hearing on February 17, 2026.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation aims to address the funding disparities between rural and urban communities in Maryland, providing much-needed resources and capacity-building support to help small towns access grants and complete critical infrastructure projects. If passed, it could serve as a model for other states looking to invest in the vitality of their rural areas.