ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 15, 2026) ~ Annapolis, MD - The Maryland Department of Agriculture has announced the launch of a new grant program aimed at improving postharvest infrastructure in rural communities. The Postharvest Infrastructure Grant Program (PHI) will make $1.6 million available to establish and enhance cold storage and delivery networks throughout the state.

This initiative is part of the federally funded Maryland Rural Health Transformation Program, which aims to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes in rural areas. By strengthening the operational capacity of local food producers, the PHI program also hopes to increase access to nutritious, locally sourced food for rural residents.

Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks expressed his enthusiasm for the program, stating that it will have a positive impact on both food providers and consumers. "By expanding food aggregation and distribution capacities in rural parts of the state, we can improve access to fresh and healthy foods for all Marylanders," said Atticks.

The PHI program is open to a wide range of Maryland food providers, including those handling fresh produce, dairy, grains for human consumption, meat and poultry, herbs, and seafood. It also includes a partnership with the Maryland Food Bank to enhance cold storage capacity and increase distribution of fresh foods.

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Eligible applicants include individual agricultural producers or seafood processors, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status involved in postharvest storage of local agricultural products, local government entities involved in postharvest storage, and institutions such as universities and hospitals seeking to establish shared infrastructure or equipment for multiple local producers.

Funding from the grant can be used across five key categories: cold storage infrastructure; transportation and fleet upgrades; distribution logistics and technology; handling and loading infrastructure; and food safety modernization. Priority will be given to projects that focus on cold storage.

Individual grants have a minimum amount of $30,000 with no maximum or match requirement. Ten percent of the grant can be used towards administrative costs. However, all projects are subject to funding availability and final approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The deadline to apply for the grant is June 14, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the complete PHI Request for Proposals and apply online via the Foundant application portal.

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To provide more information about the grant opportunity, eligibility requirements, and application guidelines, the MDA will be hosting an information session on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. Interested parties can register for the session online.

This initiative is a core component of the Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year federal initiative funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services through the Maryland Department of Health. It was authorized by H.R. 1 (2025) (Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21) with the goal of empowering states to strengthen rural communities by transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem.

For any questions regarding the application process, interested parties can contact Karen Fedor or Kelley Koeppen at [insert contact information].

The Maryland Rural Health Transformation Program is supported by a financial assistance award from CMS/HHS totaling $168,180,837.61 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents of this document do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by CMS/HHS or the U.S. Government.

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