EASTON, MARYLAND — Annapolis just announced another grant window for stores and markets that sell fresh food. Mid-Shore retailers who want in will apply through the state housing department, not a county vote — applications open Sept. 22.

The Maryland Department of Health dated its “For Immediate Release” copy of the NourishMD announcement Sept. 10, 2026; the Office of the Governor’s press release of the same text is labeled Sept. 11, 2026. Both say the Fiscal Year 2027 application round for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s NourishMD Grant Program opens Sept. 22, 2026. NourishMD will provide about $3.67 million in grants to develop, stabilize, or expand retail outlets that sell fresh food in Maryland food deserts, which the release defines as places where residents have limited or no access to nutritious food options.

Eligible food retailers can seek grants between $25,000 and $150,000 for capital needs such as infrastructure and technology, facility upgrades, and equipment. To qualify on location, a business must sit in an area with a Fresh Food Gap Score of 65% or higher on the Maryland Community Compass, a Governor’s Innovation Team tool. In the pilot round, retailers won a combined $3.64 million. DHCD’s program page breaks the FY27 pool as up to $3.67 million — $2 million in state funds and $1.67 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funds.

The round runs in two phases. Interested businesses first file an eligibility application so DHCD can check baseline eligibility and community need. Approved applicants move to a comprehensive project application. Awards are competitive, with special focus on Sustainable Communities, Just Communities, or places where poverty is highly concentrated as shown by ENOUGH Initiative eligibility. Eligibility applications are due by Nov. 2, 2026. DHCD’s page lists the Tier 1 portal open Sept. 22 at noon Eastern and closed Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. Eastern, and it tells applicants to schedule a NourishMD consultation.

NourishMD sits next to the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Maryland Market Money program, which provides a dollar-for-dollar match on purchases made with federal nutrition benefits at participating farmers markets, farm stands, and Community Supported Agriculture operations, plus technical help for those sellers. Separately, $1.67 million of NourishMD award support runs through Maryland’s Rural Health Transformation Program at the Maryland Department of Health, aimed at rural access. The governor’s release notes that Rural Health Transformation Program work is supported by a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services / U.S. Department of Health and Human Services financial assistance award; that federal award note is about the broader rural health program, not a separate NourishMD pot beyond the $1.67 million already tied to these grants.

“Where you live should not limit your ability to put fresh and nutritious foods on the table,” Moore said. “Thanks to the NourishMD program, our administration is tackling food insecurity by delivering food to the communities that need it the most, while addressing nutritional gaps and childhood hunger and ensuring no one is left behind.”

DHCD Secretary Jake Day said NourishMD supports businesses and nonprofits trying to create better product quality and equal access inside food deserts. Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks tied the next round to Maryland Market Money’s role stretching family food dollars and linking buyers to local farmers. Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani framed food access as a rural health tool.

For Mid-Shore readers, the local map is eligibility. Grocery stores, corner stores, farm stands, farmers markets, CSAs, food co-ops, and certain delivery or small food retailers can check whether their service area clears the Fresh Food Gap Score on Maryland Community Compass, then follow DHCD’s NourishMD page for the consultation and Tier 1 application. Rural Health Transformation Program funds require a retailer in a designated rural county under DHCD’s program rules.