- What it funds
- Low-interest loans for projects that reduce natural hazard risk, such as flood and storm surge protection, floodplain reconnection, shoreline erosion control, wildfire and extreme heat measures, low-impact development, building code adoption and zoning or land-use planning. MDEM says loans can also cover the local share of FEMA mitigation grants, but FEMA's FY2026 Flood Mitigation Assistance notice bars Safeguarding Tomorrow loans as match.
- Who can apply
- Local governments, which may borrow on behalf of homeowners, businesses, nonprofits and communities; no disaster declaration or NFIP participation is required. MDEM's June 2025 plan also requires a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan, a local resolution naming the repayment source, and underwriting.
- Match
- Loan, not a grant: interest is capped at 1%, and standard loans must be repaid within 20 years of project completion, with payments starting within a year of closing. MDEM's plan offers a lower rate and up to 30 years for economically challenged areas.
- Award
- Up to $5 million per project, according to the Department of Legislative Services; MDEM issued two $5 million loans to Howard County in fiscal 2025.
How Maryland applicants apply
Submit the 'I am Interested in Applying for a Loan' form on MDEM's loan fund page; MDEM follows up with a loan application, ranking and underwriting. Questions: resilientloan.mdem@maryland.gov.
The program on mdem.maryland.govDates
No dates are listed ahead. MDEM takes notices of interest year-round through the form on its loan fund page, then invites full loan applications (June 2025 Intended Use Plan). Lending depends on available money; legislative analysts estimated a fund balance of about $14.3 million in early 2026.
What has changed
- June 4, 2025Governor announced $10 million from the fund for Ellicott City flood mitigation (the North Tunnel and Maryland Avenue Culvert projects). (news.maryland.gov)
- May 20, 2025The Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2025 (Chapter 604) allowed the Governor to transfer $9 million from the fund to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund by June 30, 2025. (mgaleg.maryland.gov)
Sources
Checked against the funder’s own pages on October 29, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the funder before you apply.
- mdem.maryland.gov/pages/rlf-fund.aspx
- mdem.maryland.gov/Docs/RLF/Public%20Notice.docx
- mdem.maryland.gov/Docs/RLF/MDEM_Updated%202025%20IUP%20Revised%20(2)(1).docx
- news.maryland.gov/mdem/2025/06/05/governor-moore-announces-10-million-in-ellicott-city-flood-mitigation-investment-through-resilient-maryland-loan-fund
- mgaleg.maryland.gov/pubs/budgetfiscal/2027fy-budget-docs-operating-D52-Maryland-Department-of-Emergency-Management.pdf
- mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText
- mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/chapters_noln/Ch_604_hb0352E.pdf
- files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/aca6c6dc-72d9-4b69-b9ca-235a828f6144/attachments/70da3cee-310b-4fd8-b209-0689cc3cffb8/FY26_FMA_NOFO_10-16-2026_FINAL_508.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions
As of October 29, 2026: Rolling. MDEM takes notices of interest year-round through the form on its loan fund page, then invites full loan applications (June 2025 Intended Use Plan). Lending depends on available money; legislative analysts estimated a fund balance of about $14.3 million in early 2026.
Low-interest loans for projects that reduce natural hazard risk, such as flood and storm surge protection, floodplain reconnection, shoreline erosion control, wildfire and extreme heat measures, low-impact development, building code adoption and zoning or land-use planning. MDEM says loans can also cover the local share of FEMA mitigation grants, but FEMA's FY2026 Flood Mitigation Assistance notice bars Safeguarding Tomorrow loans as match.
Local governments, which may borrow on behalf of homeowners, businesses, nonprofits and communities; no disaster declaration or NFIP participation is required. MDEM's June 2025 plan also requires a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan, a local resolution naming the repayment source, and underwriting.
Loan, not a grant: interest is capped at 1%, and standard loans must be repaid within 20 years of project completion, with payments starting within a year of closing. MDEM's plan offers a lower rate and up to 30 years for economically challenged areas.
Submit the 'I am Interested in Applying for a Loan' form on MDEM's loan fund page; MDEM follows up with a loan application, ranking and underwriting. Questions: resilientloan.mdem@maryland.gov.
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