Maryland Heritage Areas Grant Program

Management Plan Development Grants

Heritage Area management entities may receive matching Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) grant funds for the development or updating of Heritage Area Management Plans.  The purpose of a Heritage Area Management Plan is threefold:

• to provide a strategic action blueprint for coordinating the many collaborative efforts to develop a successful heritage area;
• to enable key stakeholders to reach consensus on the roles each will play in implementation of the management plan; and
• to determine the optimum investment of public resources necessary to trigger the significant private commitments of funds, energy, and programmatic support that will make the heritage area sustainable over time.

For more information, email or call Richard Hughes, MHAA Administrator , or (410) 514-7685.

If you are a current grantee looking for information about reporting requirements, payment requests, contract questions, or other issues related to grant administration, please click here.

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities include the development of a Heritage Area Management Plans by a Recognized Heritage Area, and the updating of existing, MHAA-approved Heritage Area Management Plan by a Certified Heritage Area.

Recognized Heritage Areas may apply for grant funds to develop a Heritage Area Management Plan.  Acceptance of the management plan by the MHAA is required for approval as a Certified Heritage Area (CHA).

Heritage Areas that are already certified by MHAA may apply for funds to update an existing Management Plan if significant changes to the Certified Heritage Area (CHA) are contemplated.  Examples of significant changes include actions such as adding or deleting large portions of an existing CHA, changing the approved management entity structure that was originally approved by MHAA, or extensively revising the themes that will be the focus of visitor interpretation within the CHA.

Ineligible Expenses

MHAA grant funds may not be used to pay for the following:  

• overhead expenses of the project applicant organization
• salaries and/or benefits of permanent or temporary staff of the applicant organization, although salaries of staff may be eligible as match for that portion of a staff person’s time dedicated to an MHAA grant-funded project.

Applicant Eligibility

Local jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, and business entities qualify as eligible grantees. 

• If the applicant is a local jurisdiction, it must submit the application together with all other local jurisdictions within the Recognized Heritage Area that will benefit from the grant. 
• Nonprofit 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 under the grant program.  Contact the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to determine your organization’s status.
  
  

Award Amounts

Grants for Management Plans are awarded by MHAA based on need and the overall approach being proposed by the applicant, recognizing that some situations will be more complex and require a greater level of effort.

Matching Requirements

All grants must be matched in an amount at least equal to the amount of the grant award (dollar-for-dollar match). 

• The match must consist of a cash match equal to at least 75% of the grant award (e.g. if $100,000 of MHAA grant funds is awarded, a minimum of $75,000 of the grantee’s total match must be cash).The balance of project match may consist of in-kind contributions. 
• State of Maryland funds may not be used as match.

Application Process and Timeline

Applications by Recognized Heritage Areas to develop a Heritage Area Management Plan may be submitted directly to MHAA at any time, although whenever possible applicants are encouraged to submit their application in early April as part of the annual MHAA grant cycle.