The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) Grant Program is a source of funding designed to assist and encourage the preservation of historical, archeological, natural, and cultural resources and support economic development through heritage tourism within heritage areas certified by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.
Donor Name: Maryland Heritage Areas Authority
State: Maryland
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Type of Entity: Nonprofit Organizations and Local or Federal Government Agencies
Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): 01/28/2022
Size of the Grant: $100,000
Details:
Non-capital projects include
- Planning: research, field investigation, data recovery, feasibility and planning studies, design documents and other planning activities that support the heritage area
- Interpretation: exhibits, signage, pedestrian wayfinding signage, interpretive brochures, educational programs and materials, other interpretive activities that support the heritage area
- Programming: seminars, conferences, performances, reenactments, commemorations, festivals
Capital projects include
- Acquisition: fee title of real property, interest other than fee title (i.e. easement) of real property
- Development: repair or alteration of an existing building, structure or site, new construction for heritage tourism purposes
- Rehabilitation: returning a property to a state of utility
- Restoration: accurately depicting a property as it appeared at a particular period of time, removal of features from another time period, reconstruction of missing features from the restoration period
- Pre-Development: plans and specifications, fees for architectural design and engineering
Targeted Investment Projects
- All capital grant projects must qualify as a Targeted Investment Project by meeting the following criteria:
- Fulfill the priorities of the Certified Heritage Area; AND
- Leverage investment and facilitate economic development.
- In addition, a capital project must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Overlap with existing local, State, or Federal area designations;
- Contribute to broad-based initiatives supported by significant public investment;
- Be a part of a concentration of heritage resources; OR,
- Be a catalyst for future investment.
Funding Information
MHAA Project Grant awards may be as high as $50,000 for non-capital projects and $100,000 for capital projects.
Eligible Expenses and Activities
- Eligible activities must take place within the boundaries of a certified heritage area, and be consistent with the goals, objectives, strategies, and actions outlined in the approved Certified Heritage Area Management Plan for the heritage area(s) where the grant will take place.
- Priority will be given to activities that address the specific goals and objectives identified in the approved Certified Heritage Area Management Plan, or in subsequent planning documents created by the Certified Heritage Area, such as a Five-Year Plan or Annual Work Plan.
- Generally, grants will be made as one-time awards, not for ongoing projects or activities that require a multi-year grant commitment. Grants can be awarded to multiple phases of a larger project, however.
- Please note that the minimum grant request allowable is $5,000. For smaller non-capital projects, ask your local heritage area director about their mini-grant program.
- Applicants should always discuss their project with their heritage area director and/or the state heritage area staff prior to submitting the full application.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations and local jurisdictions, as well as state and federal government agencies. Non-profit organizations must be in good standing with the State of Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, be qualified to do business in Maryland, and have the legal capacity and authority to incur obligations involved under the grant program.
For more information, visit MHAA Grant Program.
