{"id":13932,"date":"2026-07-27T12:00:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T16:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dhcd\/?p=13932"},"modified":"2026-07-27T12:00:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T16:00:30","slug":"governor-moore-announces-nearly-4-million-in-nourishmd-grants-to-expand-fresh-food-access-in-food-deserts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dhcd\/2026\/07\/27\/governor-moore-announces-nearly-4-million-in-nourishmd-grants-to-expand-fresh-food-access-in-food-deserts\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor Moore Announces Nearly $4 Million in NourishMD Grants to Expand Fresh Food Access in Food Deserts"},"content":{"rendered":"

ANNAPOLIS, MD<\/strong>\u2013\u00a0 Governor Moore today announced that 44 organizations have received nearly $4 million in awards from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development\u2019s NourishMD Grant Program<\/a> in an effort to increase fresh food options in Maryland.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery Marylander should have access to healthy, nutritious and fresh food, no matter their zip code,\u201d said Gov. Moore<\/strong>. \u201cAs our administration works to address food insecurity, the NourishMD grants work to address nutritional health gaps and ensure that every community has the necessary food to thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n

NourishMD provides grants to support the development, stabilization and expansion of retail outlets that provide fresh food in Maryland\u2019s food deserts, areas where residents have limited or no access to nutritious food options. The program is offered by the Department\u2019s Division of Business Development<\/a> in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture<\/a> and the Maryland Department of Health<\/a>. Initial program support comes from $2 million in state funds; with an expanded rural focus thanks to $1.65 million in federal funds via the\u00a0Maryland Rural Health Transformation Program\u200b<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Marylander\u2019s access to fresh and healthy food should depend on their ZIP code,\u201d said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. <\/strong>\u201cThe NourishMD awards are investments in the people and businesses of Maryland as the Moore-Miller Administration works to reduce food insecurity by providing a necessary boost to our community-based small businesses and nonprofits.\u201d<\/p>\n

NourishMD provides eligible food retailers with grants of between $25,000 and $150,000 for capital-related needs such as certain facility upgrades, infrastructure and technology and equipment purchases, including cold storage. To be eligible for funding, businesses must be located in an area with a Fresh Food Gap Score of 60 or higher as provided by the Maryland Community Business Compass<\/a>, an initiative of Governor Wes Moore\u2019s Innovation Team, led by the State\u2019s Chief Innovation Officer, Francesca Ioffreda.<\/p>\n

A total of 44 organizations across 18 Maryland counties will receive $3.65 million in NourishMD awards<\/a>, including:<\/p>\n