Southern Maryland Food Markets Awarded More Than $300K In State Grants To Expand Fresh Food Access

SOUTHERN MARYLAND — In some Maryland communities, residents have significantly fewer options for buying fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and other healthy foods close to home. To help address those gaps, the state uses a “Fresh Food Gap Score” to identify the areas with the greatest need and direct funding where it can have the biggest impact.

Four projects in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties will receive a combined $305,000 after the Maryland Board of Public Works approved the grants July 1 as part of the NourishMD Grant Program. The grants are among 20 awards totaling $1.73 million statewide through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program.

St. Mary’s County Farm To Renovate Historic Tobacco Barn

In St. Mary’s County, Lyon Family Farms LLC in Mechanicsville received a $100,000 grant to modernize its retail operations and renovate a historic tobacco barn into a centralized farm retail space. The project is intended to expand access to locally grown food and improve the farm’s retail operations. The project area has a Fresh Food Gap Score of 83%.

Photos courtesy of Lyon Family Farms

Calvert County Market Set For Facility And Electrical Upgrades

In Calvert County, Chesapeake’s Bounty, operated by Tides and Turf LLC in St. Leonard, was awarded $40,000 to fund facility and electrical infrastructure upgrades at its on-farm market. State officials said the grant supplements a separate Rural Health Transformation Program award covering equipment costs, bringing the combined project investment to $91,400. The area has a Fresh Food Gap Score of 72%.

Photos courtesy of Chesapeake’s Bounty

Charles County Grocery Projects

On Cobb Island, Panay LLC received a $100,000 grant to help develop the Cobb Island Public Market, which is planned to serve as the island’s primary source of fresh food. According to Board of Public Works documents, Rural Health Transformation Program funding will cover eligible equipment while the state grant will fund construction costs, for a combined project investment of $150,000. The community has a Fresh Food Gap Score of 82%.

Photos courtesy of Cobb Island Public Market

In Waldorf, Oreofe International Food Market LLC received $65,000 to expand its international grocery store. Rural Health Transformation Program funding will cover eligible equipment purchases while the state grant will fund construction costs, bringing the total project investment to $150,000. The surrounding community has a Fresh Food Gap Score of 91%.

Photos courtesy of Oreofe International Food Market

About The NourishMD Grant Program

The NourishMD Grant Program operates through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program, formerly known as the Neighborhood Business Development Program, which was established in 1995.

The program provides grants to grocery stores, farm markets and other fresh food retailers serving communities with limited access to healthy, affordable food. Funding can be used for capital improvements, equipment, infrastructure upgrades and new market development, with priority given to communities that have a Fresh Food Gap Score of 60% or higher.

Curious about your own community? Residents can look up their Fresh Food Gap Score using the Maryland Community Business Compass, an interactive online map that tracks food access, child care demand and other economic indicators throughout Maryland. Click here, then select “Locate the Opportunity” to search your address or community.

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