MHAA grants available for capital and non-capital projects; deadline approaching

Caroline Cecil Dorchester Kent, MD Queen Anne's Talbot

Do you have a heritage tourism-related project in mind for your organization? Perhaps you are planning to restore a historic building, create a new museum exhibit, build a visitor center, develop a walking tour, overhaul your website, or undertake some other creative project that showcases Maryland’s unique historical, cultural, or natural resources. A Maryland Heritage Area project grant may be the funding source for you!

The Maryland Heritage Area Authority (MHAA) is pleased to announce that the Authority is now seeking applications for its FY 2019 grants cycle. MHAA provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants for capital and non-capital projects located within Maryland’s 13 Certified Heritage Areas. Non-profit organizations, local jurisdictions, state agencies, and federal agencies are all eligible to apply.

Non-capital MHAA grants are awarded for up to $50,000 per project, while capital MHAA grants are awarded for up to $100,000 per project. Projects seeking less than $5,000 in grant funding are not eligible for MHAA project grants. MHAA requires that both capital and non-capital projects support heritage tourism related activities or infrastructure.

All grants must be matched with non-state funds. In-kind services–including volunteer time, donated professional services, and donated material–can be counted as a portion of the required dollar-for-dollar match.

MHAA will be holding a series of four in-person informational workshops and two webinars to provide guidance to potential applicants. These sessions will include detailed information about the application process and eligibility. All workshops and webinars are free-of-charge and open to the public.

Workshop and Webinar Registration:

January 9, 2018 Workshop in Hagerstown

January 10, 2018 Workshop in Baltimore

January 12, 2018 Webinar

January 16, 2018 Workshop in Cambridge

January 17, 2018 Webinar

January 18, 2018 Workshop in Hughesville

The first step in the application process–aside from attending one of the highly-encouraged workshops or webinars–is to submit a simple online questionnaire called an “Intent to Apply” form.

This form is due to be submitted online no later than 11:59 pm on January 26, 2018. To begin a new Intent to Apply form, please visit our website.

For applicants located in the Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area, full MHAA grant applications are due online by March 2, 2018.

Grant awards will be announced on July 12, 2018.