The Rural Maryland Council (RMC) and its membership convened at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Annapolis on December 1, 2021 at 6:30p.m. for its Executive Board Meeting and Rural Impacts Award Ceremony. This annual event provides an overview of upcoming events and activities for 2022 and honors advocates for rural Maryland communities. “Helping the Rural County economies recover quickly from the shocks they have suffered from the COVID Pandemic is the top priority at the Rural Maryland Council. This year’s awards combined with our Rural Summit in December give us hope and optimism that a rapid recovery is within our grasp,” says John Hartline, RMC Board Chair.

This year, five awards were presented for the 2021 Rural Impact Award Ceremony:

• The Rural Community Development Award to the Town of Rising Sun in recognition for their dedication and creativity to improve the quality of life for their community. The Town has experienced a remarkable rebirth over the past three years. In 2018, roughly 50% of the downtown businesses were vacant and the Town center shopping center was struggling to fill tenant spaces as well. Over these three years, the Town was able to attract two regional banks, an upscale Coffee Shop, a Brew Pub, a Women’s Boutique and a $2milliondollar upgrade and expansion of the area’s only car wash. The award was received by Cecil County Executive Danielle Hornberger, Rising Sun Mayor Travis Marion, Town Administrator Calvin Bonenberger, and Commissioner Joseph Shephard. Pictured left to right RMC Executive Director Charlotte Davis, Cecil County Danielle Hornberger, Rising Sun Mayor Travis Marion, Town Administrator Calvin Bonenberger, and Commissioner Joseph Shephard.
• The Rural Volunteer Award to Elizabeth Anne Glotfelty and the Honorable Craig Mathies, Sr. for their leadership, dedication, and noteworthy volunteer achievement beyond the call of one’s professional duties to help improve their community. Elizabeth Anne Glotfelty passed away in September 2022 leaving behind a legacy of charitable works that will benefit the community for decades. Anne was instrumental in the founding of the Mountain Loggers Group Association in 1995. Anne served the organization as treasurer since inception, but also and more significantly in many formal and informal capacities. She gave more of herself than her administrative skills. She was the indispensable force in organizing and conducting the Annual Elimination Dinner; the annual Christmas and Easter solicitation, collection, and delivery of toys to WVU Children’s Hospital; organizing the annual Christmas dinner; and always having a leading role in the annual Log-a-Load for Kids auction-donations to the Children’s Hospital are nearing $2 million to date. Dan Rider accepted the award on the family’s behalf.

The Honorable Craig Mathies, Sr. has been a Somerset County resident for over 51 years. Educated in the Somerset County Public School System, he graduated from Crisfield High School, and attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He is active in many community and civic organizations and is presently the Pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Cambridge. Craig is also President of the Somerset County Commissioners, representing District. Matthew Teffeau accepted the award on the awardee’s behalf.

• Rural Economic Development Award to the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc.(FITCI) for leadership, dedication, and noteworthy achievement to help improve economic development opportunities in rural communities. Over the last 15 years, FITCI has served 163 companies that has created over 800 jobs. Many of their companies that have graduated stay in Frederick County and continue to flourish in the local economy. Additionally, they continue to give back to the FITCI community in many ways, including joining the advisory board.FITCI is Frederick’s first business incubator and only incubator/Accelerator combination with locations in the city and county. FITCI primarily supported local companies in the IT, Biotech, and Renewable Energy industries; today our scope includes cryptocurrency, cybersecurity, and distilling to name a few. The award was received by FITCI’s CEO Kathie Callahan Brady.
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  Senator George Edwards accepts the Rural Champion Award.

  The Rural Champion Awards were received by Senator George Edwards and Senator Guy Guzzone for their outstanding leadership and public service in advocating for policy solutions to greatly benefit rural communities. Senator Edwards has a long record of public service. He was elected to the Senate in 2006 where he currently serves on the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. Senator Edwardspreviously served in the House of Delegates from 1983 to 2007 as well as Commissioner with the Board of County Commissioners, Garrett County, 1974 to1978. He has strongly supported efforts to improve the quality of life in Western Maryland and all of the state’s rural communities. He served on the Task Force for Rural Internet, Broadband, Wireless and Cellular Service and currently serves (and sponsored) on the Task Force for the Economic Future of Western Maryland as well as fought to establish and increase funding for the State’s Lakes Restoration and Improvement Fund. Additionally, he sponsored the creation of the Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Trail Fund to be used to maintain and construct trails for off-highway recreational vehicles. The award was received by Senator Edwards.

Senator Guzzone was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2006 and served between 2007 and 2015. In 2014, he was elected to the Maryland Senate in 2014 where he currently serves as Chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. During the 2021 Legislative Session, Senator Guzzone stood with the Rural Maryland Council in its request for supplemental budget funds. He also submitted a letter of support to the Governor of inclusion of funds in the Operating Budget. He had been a supporter of employee-owned businesses sponsoring legislation allowing a subtraction modification under the State income tax for income from a qualified transfer of stock or membership interest of a Maryland corporation or limited liability company to certain employee ownership entities. The senator’s District Manager Rick Benner accepted the award on his behalf.

The Rural Maryland Council operates under the direction of a 40-member executive board in a nonpartisan and nondiscriminatory manner. It serves as the state’s federally designated rural development council and functions as a voice for rural Maryland, advocating for and helping rural communities and businesses across the state to flourish and to gain equity to its suburban and urban counterparts. The vision for RMC is the ultimate realization that residents in rural communities are achieving success in education and employment, have access to affordable, quality health care and other vital public services, and live in an environment where natural and cultural resources are being sustained for future generations.

The Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) supports Rural Maryland Council’s activities including the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF), and the State’s five Regional Councils. RMPIF is designed to facilitate significant targeted investments in important economic and community development programs and promote regional and intergovernmental cooperation. MAERDAF provides capacity building grants to rural serving nonprofit organizations and community colleges that promote statewide and regional planning, health care, economic and community development, and agricultural and forestry education.

Total Requested:	141 Applications	$11,180,214
Total Awarded:	59 Grants	$6,150,000

Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund: 29 Grants = $5,239,212

Rural Maryland Council: 1 Grant = Disbursement: $500,000

Awardee	Total Award
Rural Maryland Council	$500,000

Founded in 1994, the Rural Maryland Council (RMC) serves as the state’s federally designated rural development council and functions as a voice for Rural Maryland – advocating, educating, and helping rural communities and businesses across the state to flourish and to gain equity to its suburban and urban counterparts. The Council administers the RMPIF and MAERDAF grant programs. Additionally, the Council conducts research activities to understand rural challenges and outreach to engage rural residents in developing solutions to these challenges and convenes groups to identify solutions through consensus and coalition building.

RMC operates under the direction of a 40-member Executive Board in a nonpartisan and nondiscriminatory manner. The Council’s vision is a future where all of Rural Maryland is prosperous with thriving resources, vibrant economies, and healthy, connected communities. The organizational goals are to:

• Encourage healthy, connected communities throughout Rural Maryland through convening stakeholders, education, public relations, and advocacy;
• Support the development and growth of vibrant economies in Rural Maryland;
• Foster stewardship of Maryland’s natural resources; and,
• Maximize outreach, resources, and mission through financial and organizational

Regional Councils: 5 Grants = Disbursement: $2,000,000

One-third of RMPIF supports the State’s five regional councils:

Awardee	Total Award
Tri-County Council for Western Maryland	$400,000
Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland	$400,000
Upper Shore Regional Council	$400,000
Mid-Shore Regional Council	$400,000
Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore	$400,000

Regional Council activities funded through RMPIF, include:

• Equity lending
• Transportation software and systems
• Regional agricultural development and education

• Economic and small business development activities
• Rural economic research

Examples of projects funded include the following:

• The Tri-County Council for Western Maryland has developed a successful lending program for small businesses and entrepreneurs in their region, named Summit Financing Solutions. This program uses Federal, State, and local dollars to operate a number of loan funds that allow the Council to provide gap-financing and direct
• The Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland directs the Skillup® Southern Maryland, which is a program designed to help their region build a workforce ecosystem that supports positive economic development. Through this program and wraparound Federal supportive services, job seekers can explore career pathways, view local job postings, register for free online learning, and receive workforce services. Employers can search for qualified candidates, post jobs, and receive in-depth consulting to address hiring and training needs.
• The Upper Shore Regional Council will continue to support the Upper Shore Career Technical Liaison position and program for Kent and Queen Anne’s As well as provide micro grants that allows teachers and mentors to assist high school seniors graduating from qualifying technical programs in their region to purchase the necessary tools and equipment to begin at their career.
• The Mid-Shore Regional Council will fund the People for Change Coalition, Inc. to implement a summer career enrichment program for middle school students in partnership with the Dorchester Career and Technology The Youth Cyber Security Program is designed to lead to career paths in computer science, engineering, and project management.
• The Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore will co-sponsor the Worcester County Skilled Trades, Agriculture, Technology and Tourism Internship Program (WSTATT-IP). This is a work-based learning experience that provides high school students and recent graduates from Worcester County paid internships that focus in the STATT sectors.

The RMPIF grant program has three focus areas-Health Care, Entrepreneurship, and Infrastructure. In FY2022, this program received 56 applications totaling $6,231,452 in requests. Of these requests, 23 grants totaling $2,739,212 were awarded.

RMPIF Health Care: 12 Grants = $966,449

Awardee	Total Award
Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission	$60,000
Channel Marker, Inc	$125,000
Corsica River Mental Health Services, Inc.	$7,500
For All Seasons, Inc.	$72,225
Fort Ritchie Community Center, Inc.	$25,000
Garrett County Memorial Hospital DBA Garrett Regional Medical Center	$143,000
Health Partners Inc.	$129,300
Maintaining Active Citizens, Inc.	$50,000
TidalHealth	$125,000
Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland	$87,500
University of Maryland Shore Regional Health at Chestertown	$125,000
Women Supporting Women, Inc.	$16,924

RMPIF Entrepreneurship: 5 Grants = $647,763

Awardee	Total Award
Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc.	$160,000
Maryland Small Business Development Center, Northern Region at Harford Community College	$142,763
People for Change Coalition	$70,000
The Greater Cumberland Committee	$175,000
University of Maryland Eastern Shore-Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences	$100,000

RMPIF Infrastructure: 6 Grants = $1,125,000

Awardee	Total Award
End Hunger in Calvert County	$250,000
Fair Hill Foundation	$50,000
It Takes a Village to Help Our Children, Inc.	$200,000
Maryland Rural Development Corporation	$25,000
Town of Rising Sun	$300,000
United States Bomb Technician Association	$300,000

Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund: 30 Grants = $910,788

The MAERDAF grant program has five focus areas-Agricultural and Forestry Education, Community and Economic Development, Rural Broadband, Energy, and Youth Engagement. In FY2022, this program received 79 applications totaling $2,448,763 in requests. Of these requests, 30 grants totaling $910,788 were awarded.

MAERDAF Agricultural and Forestry Education: 6 Grants = $133,140

Awardee	Total Award
Allegany College of Maryland	$40,000
Chesapeake Culinary Center	$13,000
LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc.	$30,000
Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation	$10,390
Steam Onward, Inc.	$13,450
Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council	$26,300

MAERDAF Community and Economic Development: 19 Grants = $608,633

Awardee	Total Award
Bay Community Support Services, Inc.	$27,200
Beach to Bay Heritage Area	$40,000
Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc	$40,000
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum	$34,535
Chesapeake Housing Mission Inc.	$30,000
Community Mediation Maryland	$40,000
Evergreen Heritage Center Foundation	$25,000
For All Seasons, Inc.	$38,682
Forever Maryland Foundation	$28,600
Garrett College	$40,000
Habitat for Humanity Choptank, Inc.	$29,202
Habitat For Humanity of Wicomico County, Inc.	$40,000
Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, Inc.	$20,000
Maryland Rural Development Corporation	$40,000
Mid-Atlantic Gigabit Innovation Collaboratory	$15,414
Mid-Shore Pro Bono, Inc.	$21,000
The Greater Cumberland Committee	$40,000
Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council	$40,000
Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council	$19,000

MAERDAF Energy: 2 Grants = $62,000

Awardee	Total Award
Adkins Arboretum	$40,000
Forest Glen Commonwealth, Inc.	$22,000

MAERDAF Youth Engagement: 3 Grants = $107,015

Awardee	Total Award
Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education	$30,000
Preservation Maryland	$37,015
The Parents’ Place of Maryland	$40,000

For More Information, visit the RMC website: www.rural.maryland.gov

In 1994 when Maryland Governor William Donald Schaefer signed an executive order designating a “rural development council” for Maryland, he had no way of knowing he would set in motion the formation of a new institution that would touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, not just in rural Maryland, but in every corner of the state.

The following year, the council organized itself as the “FORVM for Rural Maryland” and was permanently established by an act of the State legislature, adopted by a unanimous vote of both houses of the Maryland General Assembly. The ancient Roman word “forvm” distinguished its mission, to provide a place for local and State leaders to exchange ideas and pursue solutions to the issues facing Maryland’s rural communities.

Photo: Bill signing ceremony for legislation establishing the FORVM for Rural Maryland on May 9, 1995. Seated, from left, are: Maryland Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller, Jr.; Governor Parris N. Glendening; and Treasurer Richard N. Dixon. Standing to the right of Senator Miller and behind the Governor are Gary V. Hodge, founding chairman of the FORVM, and William “Bill” Walker, executive director, with members of the FORVM’s board and staff. Photo by Maryland State Archives

Today—25 years later—re-named the Rural Maryland Council (RMC), it continues to distinguish itself in its efforts to champion the cause of rural Marylanders while emphasizing the importance of working with suburban and urban communities to create a stronger, united Maryland. “It’s true that our rural communities are faced with challenges that need to be resolved differently from our suburban and urban counterparts,” says Charlotte L. Davis, RMC executive director and fourth executive director for the group. “But when you really get down to it there is more that we have in common than what separates us.”

Throughout its history, the RMC has never backed away from the big, difficult and often controversial issues like wastewater, inadequate access to health care, financial resources and broadband. From the beginning it has remained steadfast in problem solving using two important tools: Giving voice to rural Marylanders and creating partnerships.

Photo: In 2019, RMC executive director Charlotte L. Davis earned the Partners for Rural America (PRA) Ron Shaffer Award. From left, are: Jerry Townsend, co-chair of the PRA Nominating Committee; PRA chair, Jessica AcMoody and Charlotte L. Davis, PRA chair emeritus. The award acknowledges individuals who excel at national or state rural development councils. Selection criteria include the ability to overcome barriers, as well as demonstrating a proficiency in collaboration and building partnerships, and creating impact. 

Using these tools, RMC has racked up some impressive accomplishments including:

• Creating the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) which to date has funded more than $5.8 million in grants.
• Establishing the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore, Mid Shore Regional Council and Maryland Agricultural and Resource Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO).
• Receiving a National Rural Impact Award in 2001 from the National Rural Development Partnership (USDA) for its work. It would be the first of many accolades the USDA would bestow on RMC.
• Establishing the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) in 2006 and waging a decade-long battle to get it funded, which finally came in 2016. To date it has funded more than $14 million in grants.  
• Co-hosting a regional forum on Rural Broadband in partnership with USDA Rural Development and taking a leadership role in sifting through the many complex issues related to broadband to produce recommendations for legislative action. Its executive director Charlotte L. Davis was tapped by the Maryland legislature to head the Task      Force on Rural Internet, Broadband, Wireless, and Cellular Service.
• Facilitating the addition of money to the Rural Broadband Assistance Fund. State funding for this initiative was $11.8 million between 2008 and 2011.
• Gaining national recognition in 2019 when Partners for Rural America (PRA) bestowed its coveted Ron Shaffer Award to executive director Charlotte L. Davis. The award acknowledges an individual who excels in building a national and state rural development partnership.

Photo: On February 9, 2017, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, right, presented a proclamation recognizing Rural Maryland Day to Charlotte L. Davis, RMC executive director; and Josh Hastings, RMC board chair. Photo by Joe Andrucyk

Perhaps the best appraisal of an organization’s success is whether it measures up to its founders’ expectations. “When I founded the organization with Bill Walker 25 years ago, and drafted the State legislation that established the FORVM for Rural Maryland, we hoped it would continue to be a powerful voice for Maryland’s rural communities for many years to come,” says Gary V. Hodge, founding chairman of the FORVM from 1994-97, and executive director of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland from 1980 to 1998. “As is always true, the effectiveness of an institution depends on the ability and commitment of the people who lead it and support its mission,” he adds.

And for 25 years and counting, the Rural Maryland Council has answered that call.​ “Although much has changed since the creation of the Rural Maryland Council, we remain dedicated to the core values of preserving rural heritage, advocating for equity, and engaging partners and stakeholders to help build strong, resilient rural communities,” says John Hartline, RMC chair.

​The Rural Maryland Council operates under the direction of a 40-member executive board in a nonpartisan and nondiscriminatory manner. It serves as the state’s federally designated rural development council and functions as a voice for rural Maryland, advocating for rural communities and businesses across the state to help them flourish and achieve equity with their suburban and urban counterparts. For more information, visit rural.maryland.gov, email rmc.mda@maryland.gov or connect with the Rural Maryland Council at facebook.com/RuralMaryland or on Twitter @RuralMaryland.