The Council is a State rural development agency which addresses problems and challenges facing rural communities in Maryland. Since 2003, the Council also has administered the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund. An independent agency, the Council for administrative and budgetary purposes only is placed under the Department of Agriculture.
Council membership is open to any Maryland citizen who subscribes to the goals of the Council and has an interest in rural Maryland. The Council also includes the Governor, or designee, as a nonvoting member; three State senators and three members of the House of Delegates; representatives from federal agencies that serve rural interests; and representatives from private sector organizations, including rural client groups and rural-based profit and nonprofit organizations (Code Economic Development Article, secs. 13-401 through 13-417).
The Executive Board consists of thirty-seven members. Of these, seven serve ex officio and eight are nonvoting members (Code Economic Development Article, sec. 13-407 through 13-410).
When first created, the Fund was administered by the Board of Public Works, while the Department
of Business and Economic Development awarded grants. In 2003, the Rural Maryland Council began to administer the Fund and award grants (Chapter 266, Acts of 2003; Code State Finance & Procurement Article, sec. 2-206).
EXECUTIVE BOARD
On programs and regulatory matters of concern to rural communities, the Executive Board advises the Council.
MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FUND
In July 2000, the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund was established (Chapter
552, Acts of 2000). The Fund's purpose is to alleviate the fiscal difficulties of rural regional planning and economic development associations, rural
community development programs, and advanced technology centers that serve agricultural and natural resource-based small businesses in rural areas.
MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION & RURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE BOARD
The Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Board was authorized in 2003 (Chapter 266, Acts of 2003; Code State Finance & Procurement Article, sec. 2-206). The Board establishes procedures for applications for grants from the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund. The Board also reviews grant applications, and makes binding recommendations to the Rural Maryland Council on recipients and amounts of grants.Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
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e-mail: mdmanual@mdarchives.state.md.us