RMPIF-funded projects
Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore is the annual recipient of Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund monies (RMPIF) from the Rural Maryland Council. The Tri-County Council uses these funds to support local initiatives in line with its core mission; these include regional planning, education/training/workforce development, as well as promotion of the Lower Shore as a region in which to live, work and invest.
FY 2026 RMPIF-funded projects
Student Growth Opportunities to Support (CTE) Experiences
STATT (Skilled Trades, Agriculture, Technology, and Tourism)
Summer Youth Employment Program
Entrepreneurship Training for Veterans
M4 Reactor (Make Delmarva Foundation, Inc.)
Tools to assist Lower Shore planning & economic development professionals
Lower Shore Regional Branding and Marketing
Student Growth Opportunities to Support (CTE) Experiences
Recipient: Somerset County Technical High School
Category: Education/Training/Workforce Development
RMPIF Amount: $100,000
Somerset County Technical High School Student Growth Opportunities to Support Career and Technology Education (CTE) Experiences – Project includes Summer Enrichment Camps for 8th through 12th grades, SkillsUSA Program, student internships and drivers education.
STATT (Skilled Trades, Agriculture, Technology, and Tourism)
Recipient: Worcester County Office of Tourism and Economic Development
Category: Education/Training/Workforce Development
RMPIF Amount: $100,000
Worcester County STATT (Skilled Trades, Agriculture, Technology, and Tourism) Internship and Workforce Exploration Program provides middle and high school students and recent graduates an opportunity to explore careers via paid in and out of school internships with local employers. Program also includes classroom work readiness activities such as career exploration, workplace etiquette, communication skills, job application and interview skills
Summer Youth Employment Program
Recipient: Lower Shore Workforce Alliance Division of the Tri-County Council
Category: Education/Training/Workforce Development
RMPIF Amount: $32,836
Summer Youth Employment Program provides paid summer work experiences with local employers to youths 16-21. In conjunction with Lower Shore public schools the program also includes job coaching and support, as well as classroom work readiness activities such as career exploration, workplace etiquette, communication skills, job application and interview skills.
Entrepreneurship Training for Veterans
Recipient: Project Opportunity
Category: Education/Training/Workforce Development
RMPIF Amount $3,800
Project Opportunity is a free entrepreneurship training program for veterans, active duty, reserve personnel, and military spouse as well as veteran small business owners. The course is specifically designed to develop and complete a business plan rather than merely exploring the possibility of entrepreneurship.
M4 Reactor (Make Delmarva Foundation, Inc.)
Recipient: M4 Reactor (Make Delmarva Foundation, Inc.)
Category: Education/Training/Workforce Development
RMPIF Amount: $10,000
Operation/Program Funding for M4 Reactor Makerspace provides support, education, and tools to encourage local manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and youth STEM education.
Tools to assist Lower Shore planning & economic development professionals
Recipient: Contract with Eastern Shore GIS Cooperative (ESRGC)
Category: Regional Planning
RMPIF Amount: $44,500
A series of GIS-related tools to assist economic development professionals in Lower Shore planning.
- DelMarVa Index Phase V – continues maintenance and upgrades to delmarvaindex.org to include three new dashboard tools – State Park Dashboard, Health Care Facilities Map and County Economic Snapshots. These tools are in addition to the previously created Economic Dashboard, Workforce Infographics, Eastern Shore Economic Recovery and Business sentiment Survey.
- Circuit Rider – Continuation of GIS Circuit Rider program to provide GIS resources to under-funded local jurisdiction planning departments in rural areas of the Lower Eastern Shore counties.
- Agricultural Census/ Agricultural Economic Impact Dashboard – The application will visualize data from the USDA Agricultural Census with emphasis on the change overtime from 2012, 2017 and 2022. Agricultural Census statistics will be explored to provide users an understanding of farms, producers, and the economics of agriculture on the Eastern Shore.
- General Operational Support – The support assists in maintaining the current standing Tri-County Council GIS Committee as a tool and sounding board for GIS-related planning and economic development.
Lower Shore Regional Branding and Marketing
Recipient: To be administered by the Tri-County Council Economic Development Division
Category: Regional Branding/Marketing
RMPIF Amount: $36,114
Lower Shore Regional Branding and Marketing – Program continues regional branding efforts by retaining position of Regional Communications Developer, graphic design, editing, layout (pre-press) of full color glossy regional economic development brochures, highway billboards, digital/print ad design and placement, branded items, booth materials and participation in conferences, continued upgrading and revision to regional economic development website LESMD.net, further development of Delmarva Index, Lower Shore CEDS Report and statistical mini-dashboards.