Maryland Heritage Areas Grant Program

Project Grants

Non-profit organizations and governments may apply for matching grants to support capital and non-capital projects located within a Maryland Certified Heritage Area (CHA).  Grants can support heritage tourism-related projects involving historical, cultural, or natural resources, events, or properties.

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

Eligible Activities

Non-Capital Projects

Eligible activities for Non-Capital projects include:

• Planning: The preparation, duplication, and distribution of research, field investigation, data recovery, documentation, feasibility, and planning studies for activities which will support the CHA.
• Design: The preparation, duplication, and distribution of design documents for projects and activities which will support the CHA.
• Interpretation:  The development and presentation of interpretive exhibits, interpretive signage, materials, or other appropriate products to further the educational and recreational objectives of the CHA.

Capital Projects

Eligible activities for Capital projects include:

• Acquisition:  The acquisition of fee title, or interest other than fee title (e.g. an easement), of real property.  For acquisition projects, MHAA will fund up to 50% of the average of two appraisals of the subject property.
• Development: Repair or alteration of an existing building, structure, or site which makes possible a contemporary use while preserving those features of the property which are significant to its historical, architectural, and cultural values.
• New construction, including pedestrian wayfinding/wayshowing signage, may also be eligible provided MHAA determines the project will:
  • address or complete priority activities identified in the approved Certified Heritage Area Management Plan; or
  • will have an exceptionally significant heritage tourism impact, and
  • is consistent with the goals, objectives, strategies and actions outlined in the Heritage Area Management Plan.
• Rehabilitation:   Activities directed to returning a property to a state of utility, through repair or alteration, which makes possible an efficient contemporary use while preserving those portions and features of the property which are significant to its historic, architectural, and cultural values.
• Restoration: Activities directed to accurately depicting the form, features, and character of a property as it appeared at a particular period of time by means of the removal of features from other periods in its history, and reconstruction of missing features from the restoration period.
• Pre-Development: Pre-development costs directly associated with a capital project such as the preparation of plans and specifications, and reasonable fees for architectural design and engineering.  This would include pre-development costs for eligible new construction.

Programming Projects

The implementation of new or pilot programs which encourage revitalization of and reinvestment in CHA resources such as seminars, conferences, performances, reenactments, commemorations, and festivals.

Ineligible Activities and Expenditures

MHAA project 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 (not to exceed 35% of total required project match);
• marketing expenses related to programming or other capital or non-capital activities such as festivals, seminars, reenactments, or project fundraising, although marketing expenses may be eligible as match).

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations and governments.

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

Non-Capital - maximum grant award is $50,000

Programming - maximum grant award is $50,000 

Capital - maximum grant award is $100,000.

Matching Requirements

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

• 75% of required match must be cash match.
  • Examples of Cash Match:
    • Cash expenditures
    • Support from a non-state grant or loan fund
    • Staff salaries (but no more than 35% of total match required) for work specifically on the project
• No more than 25% of the required match can be in-kind.
  • Examples of In-Kind Match (no more than 25% of total match required):
    • Volunteer time for work on the project (see http://independentsector.org/volunteer_time for current value of volunteer time)
    • Donated professional services (can be valued at their professional rate, but only if working on the project in their professional role (i.e. architect donating architectural design services)
    • Donated materials
• State funds cannot be used as match.
• No more than 35% of required match can be staff salaries.

Application Process and Timeline

1. An Intent to Apply form must be submitted to the local Certified Heritage Area Management entity. The form is available from the CHA.
2. Full applications are first submitted to the local Certified Heritage Area management entity. Applications generally are due to the local CHA management entity sometime between the beginning of February to mid-March, check with the local CHA management entity for grant deadlines. 
3. The CHA management entity then reviews, ranks, and submits applications to the MHAA, generally in early April. 
4. MHAA staff first review applications for completeness and accuracy and will contact the CHA management entity or applicants if additional information is required. 
5. Complete applications are forwarded to the MHAA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for review. 
6. TAC recommendations are then forwarded to the MHAA for review and final action at the Authority’s July meeting.

Multi-Heritage Area Projects

If the project includes activities that will occur within two or more CHAs, applications must be submitted directly to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority by no later than February 15. 

The MHAA will distribute copies of the application to all CHAs within which project activities will occur for review and comments. 

Submit applications to: Richard Hughes, Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, 100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD 21032-2032).

Special Requirements

Capital projects generally must be located with a Target Investment Zone approved by MHAA.  Capital grants may also be available on a case-by-case basis outside of a TIZ, but within a Certified Heritage Area if MHAA determines that the project is essential to the success of the CHA management plan.

MHAA may require conveyance of a perpetual historic preservation easement to the Maryland Historical Trust on historic properties assisted with MHAA capital grant funds.

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