Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers Program

The Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers (RAMP) Program is a workforce development grant initiative administered by the Maryland Department of Labor’s Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning (DWDAL), specifically under its Office of Strategic Initiatives. This program is funded through a $2 million allocation from the Maryland Office of Overdose Response (MOOR) via the state's Opioid Restitution Fund. The program is designed to alleviate the shortage of Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS) in rural regions of Maryland by funding community organizations to train, certify, and support individuals on the path to becoming CPRS. These specialists use their lived experience with substance use or mental health recovery to guide others on their recovery journeys. The RAMP Program targets rural areas in Maryland that have been most heavily affected by the opioid crisis and workforce shortages. Eligible applicants include a wide array of organizations such as nonprofits, community-based groups, faith-based organizations, local governments, workforce development boards, apprenticeship sponsors, educational institutions, and economic development entities. To be considered, applicants must be located in or serve participants from Maryland counties wholly defined as rural under state statute, with priority given to those serving ENOUGH Initiative communities—targeted areas identified by the state as high-need. RAMP-funded organizations may receive up to $200,000 each to implement activities over a 28-month period starting February 1, 2026 and ending May 31, 2028. Permissible uses of funds include CPRS training and certification costs, support services for participants (such as transportation and childcare), staff expenses, travel, supplies, and advertising. The program does not allow use of funds for capital purchases such as land, buildings, vehicles, or costs related to naloxone and drug testing strips, which are already supplied free by the Maryland Department of Health. The application requires submission of a detailed project plan that demonstrates the applicant’s strategy for outreach, recruitment, training delivery, and career pathway development for CPRS participants. Applicants must partner with at least two organizations for outreach and recruitment and must provide Letters of Commitment or MOUs from three employers willing to offer internships or employment to participants. The plan must also address the geographic region served, identified labor market needs, and barriers to CPRS recruitment or advancement. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on November 21, 2025, via email to Anna Whitney, Program Manager at the Maryland Department of Labor (anna.whitney@maryland.gov). A pre-proposal conference will be held on September 10, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., for which interested applicants are invited to RSVP to the same contact. Applications will be reviewed by a panel composed of representatives from both behavioral health and workforce sectors. Award decisions will be communicated via email. If selected, recipients will enter into a grant agreement and will be reimbursed for approved costs on a quarterly basis. Program monitoring is ongoing throughout the performance period. MD Labor will conduct monthly meetings, quarterly site visits, and coordinate with MOOR for deliverable tracking. Subgrantees must submit quarterly activity and fiscal reports and retain records for at least five years beyond the grant period unless extended due to audit or legal circumstances. The program includes strong nondiscrimination and accessibility requirements, and applicants must agree to comply with all equal opportunity provisions as a condition of funding.

Ensure you include three employer commitment letters and at least two recruitment partners. Attend the pre-proposal conference and follow all submission instructions precisely.